by Heather Graf
MOUNT PLEASANT, Tenn. - It's a basic need we must all have to survive. Now, residents of one mid-state community say their water supply is drying up.
It's happening on Mount Joy Road, which sits about four miles from the City of Mount Pleasant in Maury County.
"Just the past few years, this has been happening," said Carolyn Mathis, whose family has lived in the area for generations. "This particular spring, we have four families on this one spring."
Years ago, that spring provided them with 4,000 gallons of water a day, which was more than enough. Now, Mathis says the supply has trickled to just 500 gallons a day.
The shortage already has her entire family rationing water.
They save rainwater or pull water from a nearby creek to water their plants - but that water isn't clean enough to drink or cook with.
"We're trying to conserve what we have," said Becky King. "Because when you have to do without water, you're at a loss. You know, you take it for granted."
Recently, the family and more than a dozen others decided to go to nearby Mount Pleasant for help.
Mathis appeared before city leaders at this week's meeting, explained their situation, and asked that the city water lines be extended about two miles to their neighborhood.
"They were really encouraging, so we hope we're going to get water," she said. "We've got to have a water supply."
The city's public works director tells News Channel 5 he's currently researching the project. He says they'd like to help, as long as it doesn't burden other water users and taxpayers.
He estimates it would take at least six months and between $160,000 and $175,000 to get the job done.
To help foot that bill, he says residents in that area would likely pay a higher tap fee and water rate than folks in other parts of Mount Pleasant.
Residents know it won't happen overnight, but say they have to start somewhere.
"If we don't start trying to get water now, maybe next year we won't even have any, and then it will be too late," said King.
City leaders will hold a work session on the issue on July 12th, and hope to make a final decision at their July 17th meeting.
email: hgraf@newschannel5.com
