WEST HELENA, Ark. -- Frustrations are mounting as a water issue has left West Helena residents without water, forcing some businesses and schools to close. Work is underway to get a new well up and running but citizens say they're growing tired of facing the same old problems. "I've got 21 one gallons and then two five gallons (of water)," Deedra Mercer said. Mercer told WREG she was at Walmart on Monday morning loading up on water. "It was just $35 for all of this plus a couple of Reese's Pieces to make my husband a little more happy. He's upset about the water situation," Mercer said. MLGW customers suffer through power failures This past weekend was the latest instance of West Helena having problems with its water. That's due to broken pipes in the town's water tank, which causes leaks and makes it difficult to keep it full. "They're having to go through a really bad situation," said Helena-West Helena Chief of Staff James Valley. "They have no water, none whatsoever. Your businesses, residents, school children, daycares - all of them are without water today." The state has already provided $200,000 just to address the water problem. However, West Helena is still left to depend on water wells and pumps way past their prime. "There's three wells over there behind you," Valley told a WREG reporter. "They're putting out about 600 gallons of water per minute between the three of them. They ought to be doing 600 gallons a minute each." Crews have been working around the clock to get this new well on line, which will have a greater output than all three of the aging wells put together. Bellevue Baptist pastor Steve Gaines says he’s stepping down That increased output of water will increase rates for customers. "The rates went up and the customers balked at it," Valley said. "The City Council took the rates back down to the old rates, at least temporarily, but they're going to increase. They just won't increase to the magnitude of that last increase." Officials say that they hope the new well will be on line by the end of this week. In the meantime, the local high school is making showers in its newly renovated gym available to West Helena residents without water. Those interested are asked to contact Helena-West Helena Schools for more information.