Many drops to drink
By ALLAN TINKER
The areas of central North Dakota are dotted with water: lakes, sloughs, potholes and springs. While spectacular for wildlife and often handy for livestock, the water is not often clean enough for human consumption or in the right place. This has been a battle throughout many lands, many centuries, and many climates: the need for water to conduct personal life, business and commercial interests.
In rural areas, the problem is more severe. Here, the financial feasibility of providing water for an assortment of needs with customer base thin or scattered, impacts the ability to provide water through pipelines and many farms, homes and rural businesses depend upon private wells, which can require deep drilling, costly upkeep and provide less than desirable water quality.
