Apeldoorn gets creative in gas outtage

Reparations to the gas pipes in De Sprenkelaar neighborhood in Apeldoorn have been ongoing since Friday, and will take another week to fix, forcing locals to become creative in ensuring they can can still enjoy their creature comforts, the NOS reports. The Liander gas company is working on reparations to the gas lines, which have become flooded with muddy water. Residents at senior care homes have received electric heaters because the nights and mornings are still cold, and a swimming pool has been turned into a communal bathing area while the Liander gas company workers are trying to fix the problem. For some people, the lack of heating will be bothersome, but not unmanageable. For others, however, it is making life very difficult. Resident Gerry has a 10-year old handicapped son who cannot use the swimming pool for a shower as it isn't handicap-friendly. She has to find a way to let her son shower at a special school where there are facilities. A Facebook page has been set up with tips how to get through this week without gas, and signs have been posted in the neighborhood offering help. The local chip shop has not been affected by the gas problem, as they use electric friers. Gerry tells the NOS that all electric kettles have been sold out at the shops. A financial compensation has been promised to the 1300 affected households. For the first eight hours, they will receive €35, and then €20 per four hours. For reparations, several hundreds of holes have been dug along the gas lines every 30 to 40 meters on the sidewalk, a spokesperson of Liander said. "We have hired everyone who is available." The workers will use cameras to inspect the lines, and pump out the muddy water where necessary. If all goes to plan, then the first few households may be with gas again towards the afternoon. For the rest of the neighborhood, they might have to wait another week. No gas means no heating, but at least there's coffee.