While watching a special on the plight of third world women, who spend much of their day carrying water for the needs of their families and crops, it occurred to me that we have a parallel situation here in La Plata County. This reference is to our citizens who have to haul water.

Whether you are one of those who do or have observed this activity, I want to speak in particular of the residents on the Dryside.

There are families who still must haul water for their most basic needs when one of the goals of the Animas-La Plata Project was to deliver water to the Dryside.

Think about the expenditure of energy, both human and purchased, it takes to haul water. When considering the purchase of a vehicle, such a family must consider the capacity of their vehicle to haul water. This leads to the purchase of a truck with a bed that can accommodate a tank or a vehicle able to pull a trailer with the tank.

In the hierarchy of needs to sustain human life, water is a basic need. With the exception of oxygen, water is the most urgent need. My question is why have the commissioners currently running for office not made this a priority?

Kayla Patterson has made this a matter that gets her attention, and one that she will seek a solution for. Vote for her in November!

Kelli Petersen

Bayfield