Martins Ferry has a new first lady, but she didn't get much of a honeymoon.

Mayor Phil Wallace married Pat Green of St. Clairsville on Saturday morning, only to return to work later that day because the city was dealing with a series of waterline breaks that left about 12,000 customers without water service throughout the entire weekend. Service was restored Monday morning.

Wallace said his bride didn't complain that duty had called.

''It comes with the territory,'' he said.

Wallace said the first break occurred Friday in the Second Street area; it was followed that day by a second break near the water treatment plant. And shortly after that problem was repaired, a third break occurred about 10-15 feet away from the second one.

Wallace said city officials did their best to provide residents and customers from outside the city with drinkable water. Bottled water was purchased from Sam's Club, Wal-Mart and United Dairy, with about $5,000 worth of bottles being purchased late Sunday.

''The residents themselves were calm and very nice,'' Wallace said. ''They understood the situation, and things went relatively smoothly.''

In a further attempt to protect residents and their property, city fire department officials arranged for trucks from the Belmont County Tanker Task Force to be ready to respond in the event of a fire. Wallace said no extra trucks were stationed in the city, but some communities like Barnesville that lie several miles from Martins Ferry moved available trucks closer.

Though the lines have all been repaired, the crisis may not be over for the city. Wallace noted the money to pay for employees' overtime and the emergency water that was purchased will have to come ''from the budget somewhere.'' He added that Martins Ferry officials are seeking state and federal assistance after he declared an official emergency in the city.

''It will take several thousand dollars, we believe,'' Wallace said.

Wallace also acknowledged that the water department's budget already has been in trouble this year. He said renovations at the treatment plant and water bills that are too low to turn a profit have contributed to the department ''running at the break-even or below the break-even line'' in recent months.

''The department is not in the red today,'' he added.