Drought Dries Up Homeowners' Wells

Imagine not being able to bathe, wash dishes or even wash clothes at home. It is a predicament a Douglas County family is facing, they said, because of the severe drought.

They said it has literally caused their well to dry up.

"We have jugs for dishwashing. We have a big jug here for brushing teeth and stuff," said David West.

Since August 11, David and Cathy West's well has gone dry, leaving them with very little water. The couple said the state's severe drought conditions have led to this. They said they have been inconvenienced ever since.

"We have not been able to take showers," said Cathy. "We have to wash our clothes; take showers with family -- thank goodness we have people around here where we can do that."

The Wests are now trying to get the Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority, or WSA, to allow them to connect with the county water service -- even circulating a petition.

"There are three of us around here who can't drink our water," Cathy said. "We need county water down this road. And it's awful where we get petitions up, people want it, but they won't hook it up."

Peter Frost is the executive director of WSA. He said past experience has taught the county to make sure the homeowners will commit financially to a project like this. So far, only six of 19 residents have signed on.

"We're sympathetic to these people that have wells going dry," Frost said. "But the point is, we'd soon run out of money if we dropped everything to get water to those few people."

The West family is hoping for a solution sooner, rather than later.

Frost said he'd like to give the effort a little more time to generate more interest, and give more residents a chance to join the county water service, if they choose to commit to it.