AN MD88 WAS DISPATCHED WITH THE WATER SVC PANEL CLOSED AND LATCHED BUT THE SVC HANDLE LEFT IN THE OPEN POS ALLOWING WATER TO DRAIN OVERBOARD INFLT CAUSING ICE TO FORM IN AND ON THE PANEL DOOR.

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AFTER PUSH BACK THE FLT ATTENDANT TOLD US SHE HAD NO WATER IN THE FORWARD LAVATORY; SINK OR FIRST CLASS GALLEY. SHE CHKED WITH THE FLT ATTENDANT IN COACH; THERE WAS WATER IN THE LAVATORY ON THE CAPT'S SIDE; NONE ON THE COPLT'S SIDE. WE CONTACTED PAX SVC ON THE RADIO AND ASKED THEM IF THEY WANTED US TO RETURN TO THE GATE FOR WATER. THEY SAID CHK WITH MAINT TO EXPLORE A FIX. MEANWHILE THE FLT ATTENDANT SAID THE WATER WAS WORKING. A COUPLE OF MINS LATER SHE RETURNED TO SAY IT STOPPED AGAIN. WE TALKED TO MAINT ON THE RADIO. THEY SAID IT MIGHT BE AIR IN THE LINE; SO HOLD THE FAUCET OPEN FOR A WHILE. THE FLT ATTENDANT HAD ALREADY DONE SO. MAINT SAID THEY HAD NO OTHER IDEAS. WE CHKED WITH PAX SVC. THEY SAID SINCE WE HAD SOFT DRINKS AND BOTTLED WATER; WE SHOULD PROCEED. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT OUR DEST; MAINT FOUND THE WATER SVC HANDLE LEFT IN THE 'VENT' POS; ICE FILLED THE SVC PANEL AND WAS OUTSIDE AS WELL. THE 'FAIL SAFE' SVC DOOR HAD BEEN FORCED CLOSED WITH THE HANDLE IN THE WRONG POS. I DID THE WALKAROUND BEFORE THE FLT AND THE DOOR WAS CONFIRMED SHUT AND LATCHED PROPERLY. I'LL NEVER TKOF AGAIN WITHOUT WATER PRESSURE UNLESS WE CAN CONFIRM THE HANDLE IS IN THE CORRECT POS. MAINT DID NOT MENTION THE POSSIBILITY OF WATER VENTING INFLT; CAUSING ICE AND POTENTIALLY DESTRUCTION OF THE #2 ENG.