Poor Water Supply Brings Debate

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WINCHESTER, Tenn.- In one mid state community, studies show nearly 90 percent of their water is contaminated with e-coli and other bacteria.

For decades, people in the Keith Springs area of Franklin County have begged for a community-wide water system. Is just back from the county and has more on their complaint.

Many people take a city-wide water system for granted, but in the Keith Springs community of Franklin County, everyone still gets their water from a stream or a water well, and they say it's time for local, state and federal leaders to help move their community into the 21st century.

"We're human beings. We pay our taxes. We do everything we're supposed to. Politicians don't mind getting our vote. They don't mid getting our tax money. Why can't we get some service?" expressed Paul Tucker, a Keith Springs resident.

Keith Springs is an unincorporated community just outside Winchester. People there say for more than 25 years they have pushed to get a water system, but the problem is the money. Right now it would cost them more than five million dollars, but because the community has only about 400 people, paying that back would be nearly impossible.

One of the big problems with the current system is if power goes out, so does the flow of water because the pumps run on electricity. The county has applied for grants, but because there is never enough money to fund the entire project, they have to give it back.

Right now county commissioners have searched outside the community for grant writers and they are looking to get money to supply a water line from city of Winchester.

"The only real tax base is in Winchester and the only grant writing category is in Winchester, so we we're going to try that," said Franklin County Commissioner, Arthur Knoll.