As the
article prefaces the topic with the controversial incident of Flint, Michigan
and the idea of clean water for all, Sara Smith writes her TribTalk article on the essential topic on our potable resource
and the need to maintain and upkeep the ways native Texas receive it. With
World Water Day occurring on March 22nd and a quirky topic of discussion, Sara
reaches out to those worried about the conditions of drinking water systems
with a horrifying quote, "EPA now estimates that
communities face a $384 billion backlog to repair drinking water infrastructure
across the country". She follows up with local examples of the impending
trouble, a City named Keller applying for a loan of $12 million to replace four
decade old pipes in aging asbestos-cement that supplies water for
42,000 people. Furthermore, Smith refers to a report by the Environmental
Integrity Project that states drinking water systems that service 51,000 people
have "exceeded Safe Drinking Water standards for arsenic."
Sara Smith, staff attorney for Environment Texas makes a
potent case for the indispensable resource that Texans have access, and
furthers her own agenda by listing ways to protect it with "green
infrastructure and ... low impact development." While certainly biased,
established by a quick glance to her former articles and her current
occupation, Smith does give sound evidence on why drinking water systems might
be a quintessential issue that Texas will need to focus on as the structure
slowly grows weak from negligence. Flint might be the spark that brings to
light the harsh truth that drinkable water is far too often taken for granted.
