Residents at 55 Pharr Apartments in Atlanta without water for 3 weeks

Residents forced to move out as crews dig up property to fix ongoing water issues

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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Residents at the 55 Pharr Apartments in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta have been without water for nearly three weeks as crews work to identify and fix the problem. Residents have been forced to move out of their units on short notice, causing significant disruption and hardship, especially for a new mother. The property management company and homeowners association say they are working to resolve the issue, but residents remain frustrated by the lack of progress and clear communication.

Why it matters

Access to running water is a basic necessity, and the prolonged outage at 55 Pharr Apartments is causing major hardship for residents, impacting their ability to maintain proper hygiene, prepare food, and carry out daily tasks. The situation has taken a mental and financial toll, especially on vulnerable residents like a new mother and those living on housing vouchers.

The details

Residents at 55 Pharr Apartments in Atlanta's Buckhead neighborhood have been without water for nearly three weeks as crews dig up portions of the property, and even inside units, in an effort to fix the ongoing water issues. Residents have been forced to move out on short notice, causing significant disruption. One resident, Ketraye Anderson, had to move her entire two-bedroom apartment with her newborn and two other young daughters, despite her doctor's advice not to lift or strain after recently giving birth. Other residents, like Tracy Brooks and Valencia Faniel, have also been impacted, spending significant money on bottled water and takeout food. The property is managed by Arcan Capital, but the 55 Pharr Homeowners Association and Atlanta Community Services are responsible for the repairs. The HOA says they have authorized a plumber to replace the main water line, but residents remain frustrated by the lack of progress and clear communication.

  • Residents have been without water for nearly 3 weeks as of February 17, 2026.
  • Ketraye Anderson was forced to move out of her unit on short notice on February 17, 2026.

The players

Ketraye Anderson

A resident of 55 Pharr Apartments who was forced to move out of her unit on short notice with her newborn and two other young daughters, despite her doctor's advice not to lift or strain after recently giving birth.

Tracy Brooks

A resident of 55 Pharr Apartments and Ketraye Anderson's mother, who has also been without water for nearly two months.

Valencia Faniel

A resident of 55 Pharr Apartments who has dealt with unreliable water pressure for a couple of months and is now considering moving out.

Lalita Swopes

A resident of 55 Pharr Apartments who lives there through a housing voucher, and was told by an inspector not to pay rent until water service is restored.

55 Pharr Homeowners Association

The entity responsible for repairs and maintenance at the 55 Pharr Apartments.

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What they’re saying

“With no help, no prior notice, they didn't give me time to pack up any of me and my kids' things. We were living here. I still had pictures on the walls, TVs mounted.”

— Ketraye Anderson, Resident (Atlanta News First)

“This is going on my second month without water. So it's definitely a big inconvenience to see my grandkids going through that. We're not used to living like this — living off bottled water or not being able to bathe every day.”

— Tracy Brooks, Resident (Atlanta News First)

“It's unsanitary. We're not used to living like this. This issue has stressed me out. It's made me very depressed. It messes with my PTSD, my anxiety. And then it has me off track where I can't focus on my everyday needs or be able to help my children or my family. So it has taken a toll on me significantly.”

— Valencia Faniel, Resident (Atlanta News First)

“I'm losing a lot by not having water. And not having water causes me not to go outside. It causes me to stop looking for a job. It causes me to be isolated in my own apartment.”

— Lalita Swopes, Resident (Atlanta News First)

What’s next

The 55 Pharr Homeowners Association has authorized a plumber to replace the main water line, with work expected to continue through the weekend. The board believes this will resolve the issue and that affected tenants will be adequately compensated for the days without water.

The takeaway

The prolonged water outage at 55 Pharr Apartments has caused significant hardship for residents, highlighting the importance of reliable access to basic utilities and the need for better communication and responsiveness from property management during such disruptions. This situation underscores the vulnerabilities faced by low-income and housing-insecure individuals when essential services are interrupted.