"As aging private wells fall into disrepair, residents are left traveling miles to access or buy clean drinking water. Public officials say it’s a humanitarian crisis but argue there’s little they can do."
"CHESTNUT, Ala. — For Valentino Thames, it’s become a routine. Just another part of everyday life.
At least once a week, he makes a trip of more than 25 miles to the nearest Walmart, located in the county seat of Monroeville, to buy gallons and gallons of water—enough for him and his wife Linda to drink, cook and wash themselves until the next week, when they’ll have to do it all again.
He’s one of dozens in Chestnut, a small, majority-Black community in south-central Alabama, that lack access to public water. Like Thames, many residents are forced to travel dozens of miles to access or buy water for everything from drinking to personal hygiene, a result of private wells that are deteriorating or have in some cases fallen into complete disrepair. For years, they’ve pressured public officials without success to extend water infrastructure to Chestnut.
“I don’t understand it,” Thames said. “It seems like they come up with reason after reason to keep us from getting water. We’re trying as hard as we know how.”"
Lee Hedgepeth reports for Inside Climate News February 11, 2025.
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