Ogden cuts off water, but Red Cross helps families

OGDEN, Utah (AP) — Ogden is cutting water service to dozens of households that can't afford to pay their bills, but the Red Cross is stepping in to help.

Ogden's chief administrator John Patterson says the city turns off the water only after providing two delinquency notices and trying to contract households that can ask for help from a city relief program.

The American Red Cross of Northern Utah has paid $2,400 to cover bills for 16 of the families whose taps went dry Thursday.

Marcie Valdez, the organization's community services director, says her phones were ringing that day with complaints from another dozen families.