Water Woes

By Terri Burke
Editor / Abilene Reporter-News

In March 1886, five years after this newspaper began publishing and a year after the city's first water mains were laid, an editor wrote, "We hold out the challenge, boldly and loudly, that there is not another city in the state that compares with us in water supply."

Before 1886 was out, a 23-month drought had set in. The city was receiving humanitarian aid from around the country and church congregations had started holding prayer meetings for rain.

By 1891, another editor wrote that the town's water supply was "inadequate."

The extremes of the two editors' opinions closely mirror the extremes of our weather this past century. And based on our staff's research, one can surmise those jolting extremes aren't going to change — at least in terms of the weather.

For a little more than four months our staff has been working on "Water Woes," the eight-day series that begins on this page today and explores the ramifications of the Big Country's dwindling water supply.

Some in our newsroom have pointed out the irony that we begin this series just after a period of regular rain; why couldn't we have completed and published these stories back in May, when temperatures were hitting 106 degrees and rain was a faint memory, they ask?

To ask that is to risk repeating the errors of my long ago predecessors. Lawns may be lush green today but our history shows us the rain spigot could get turned off again tomorrow and not come back on for six years, as happened in the 1950s.

Between now and next Sunday, our staff will trace for you the history of our weather and our travails with our water supply. You'll read about the politics of water and how elected officials have begun to tackle the issue across the state and the nation. We'll outline for you what our city and region have done so far to secure this most precious resource for the future and what yet needs to be done. Stories will examine consumption and conservation and what role money plays in all of it.

You can have a part in this series as well. Next Saturday, the day before we print our final installment examining long-term solutions to our periodic water shortages, we want to publish your concerns, thoughts, ideas and questions about water. There are several ways you can participate: phone NewsLine at 676-2255, category 2125; post your comments at www.waterwoes.com by clicking on the "Your Thoughts" link, or drop off your letter at our offices at 101 Cypress Street, Abilene.

Nearly every reporter on our staff has contributed to this series. By the time next Sunday dawns we will have devoted some 25 newspaper pages to this project, an uncommon amount of space for one topic.

Why would we put so much of our time and money into one issue? Simply: we believe no other issue is more important to the future of our city and region. No longer can we rejoice with the rain and announce our problems are solved. Instead, we need to dream big dreams and to resolve to pursue bold solutions.

Our staff joins me in wishing that this series of stories contributes to setting our community on such a path.