Some Sumner County Residents Live Without Running Water

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Thousands in the mid-state have lived without running water for decades. Many people in Sumner County rely on well or rain water to get them through the year.

The county recently spent more than $1 million to run water lines to dozens of residents, but many of them can not afford to tap into the water supply.

County commissioner Shawn Fennell said in the past provisions were made to prevent this from happening.

"We had a gentleman's agreement that utility companies would offer some type of a payment plan for people that could not afford a water tap," said Fennell.

One woman in Bethpage drives several miles to use the spigot at a friend's home.

"If my friends sell their house, I don't know where I'm going to get the water, so yeah that's difficult for me - that's very difficult for me," said Su San Small-Hammer.

There is grant money available to run water lines to the affected. County officials are working on a plan to make that happen.