Monday, Oct 29 2012 2:12PM
Following in Kwethluk, Alaska's footsteps, residents living in the village of Chuathbaluk now have running water and are doing away with unsanitary living conditions associated with using buckets and barrels to gather water.
Following in Kwethluk, Alaska's footsteps, residents living in the village of Chuathbaluk now have running water and are doing away with unsanitary living conditions associated with using buckets and barrels to gather water.
While the projects continue to help update these major systems, the cost of completing such updates can cost millions. In Chuathbaluk, more than $15 million will be needed to improve conditions and provide clean water.
The Alaska Dispatch notes that federal funding for improving water systems in rural communities has depleted in recent years, leaving many states without the same opportunities. Less funding also prolongs the amount of time it takes to complete a project. In 1998, only 60 percent of rural homes had indoor plumbing, while that number has now increased to include 80 percent of properties on rural land.
"The community is really excited about getting these projects completed," said Jim Smith, Chuathbaluk mayor, in a release. "Most people take getting water from a faucet and flushing a toilet for granted - but out here it makes a huge difference in our quality of life."
For further information, check out this source:
The Alaska Dispatch