Water worries send Philadelphian residents in a frenzy for bottled water

Our Jasmine pay continues our live coverage on the water worries and Jasmine's live at the Acme on Snyder Avenue in South Philadelphia were shoppers. We expect them to be looking for more bottled water this morning. Jasmine, I was out yesterday tried three places. No water. I left empty handed. So I'm sure that was the case for a lot of people. Janelle, it was bottled water is the hot ticket item on the shelves.

Everyone is looking for it. It's all because of that spill. The problem grocery stores say they're having a hard time keeping up with supply. Now you can see behind me. There are trucks here and things are coming off of the truck, but we've been looking all morning and we did not see any more cases of bottled water. Of course, not sure if that will change throughout the day, but we do know that people want this bottled water now. This store opening at seven o'clock this morning.

So here's a look at some video from yesterday. It was a hectic scene playing out across the region. Social media video showing people grabbing whatever was available and loading up their cards at stores like the BJs on Oregon Avenue in South Philadelphia. From Chopper 3 overhead, you can see just how long the lines were forming outside of the store. They were also bare shells at stores like Walmart on Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Target on Mifflin Street and Acme on Snyder Avenue. Some locations telling people before they get in the store that they are sold out of water. While others are limiting how much they're giving out.

While officials suggested people fill bottles with tap water until tonight, people were not convinced. We spoke with some who say finding bottled water is way harder than they expected. I think it's crazy that it's affecting such a major city who already may not have clean water at home. We're trying to buy some water, but this is the third place we looked at this tonight. Not anything available. So it's making our rounds. It's just a shock to everyone that they have to go through this, but not only that, people who don't have access to internet have to find a way to know about this, go outside of their houses, get water that they may not have access to or the money to even get it.

Now, unfortunately, officials say boiling the water will not remove the chemicals that may be there. Again, this store opens at seven o'clock. It's unclear if and when they will have more bottled water left in store. Jim Janell, I'll send it back to you in the studio. Thank you, Jasmine.

Eyewitness News Morning, water, philadelphia water