Editorial: Holding the Line for Access to Running Water in Pulaski County

Someone asked one of our editors the following question:

"What does it say about our priorities when officials can justify funding non-essential programs and using tax incentives for well-funded development projects while some residents still can't access running water?”

The person was referring to a few different things: 1) the more than a half a million dollars paid out to SPEDA by Pulaski County residents each year, 2) the TIF district that was put in place by local government to fund the infrastructure for the development in the southern end of the city a few years ago, and 3) there are people in our county that are still hauling water for their basic needs.  

Let's be clear here, this is not a pro or anti campaign issue. Access to clean water has been recognized internationally as a basic human right—yet some residents in our own community still struggle to access it. We also want to be clear that no one is being accused of violating rights or committing a crime. We are helping to shed light on what many in our community view as a priority matter.   

Right now, in our county, families are still living without direct access to a water line. On Herrin Lane in Shopville, one 69-year-old disabled veteran is hauling 1,000 gallons of water every week—multiple trips, nearly 20 miles each time—just to meet basic needs.

According to a recent Facebook post, pleading the issue this time around, stated there are 7 occupied properties on that stretch, including children, disabled residents, and other vulnerable individuals.

For those who regularly attend, or watch, the Pulaski County Fiscal Court Livestream meetings, you will likely know that this issue has been raised before—publicly, and directly to the members of Fiscal Court. We will have to double check, but we believe there were/are other cases in our county similar to Herrin Lane.