By Jennifer Whitlock
Field Editor
Winter Storm Uri brought numerous challenges to Texans. While many went without power or water for hours or several days, some residents, like those in Stonewall County, were without a reliable water supply for more than 10 days.
“The city of Aspermont did not have a water supply from Feb. 13 until Feb. 24,” Renee Spikes, Scurry-Stonewall-Kent County Farm Bureau (CFB) board member, said. “The main water line that brings water into the city was frozen and severely damaged in the resulting thaw. A temporary line has been installed, and while it was turned on this past Tuesday [Feb. 23], the storage tank and water tower had to be filled before water service can be restored, which is supposed to happen toward the end of the week.”
Aspermont’s primary water source is Miller’s Creek reservoir in nearby Knox County. The water travels to a facility in Rule, where it is mixed with well water and piped into the area.
“The pipeline burst and froze at the river bridge between here and Rule,” Spikes said. “The entire town and plenty of rural residents along the pipe’s path have been without water since that day.”
The area does not have abundant groundwater resources, she noted. Families like hers that live in the country still rely on that same water source to bring water to their households. Other rural families have trailers with large water tanks they haul into town to fill up at the water tower. So, when the city lost water, the entire area lost water.
“At my place, we had calves we were weaning in the pen, and we had no water. We have chickens and show lambs and various animals here, and we take it all for granted that we turn the faucet on and there’s water,” Spikes said. “But now we’re learning to be grateful for that simple thing.”
Scurry-Stonewall-Kent County Farm Bureau donated a pallet of water to the City of Aspermont.
“Many, many people have graciously donated water, including our county Farm Bureau. The water is unloaded at City Hall and dispersed every other day for cooking, drinking, that sort of thing,” she said. “There are some people at Knox City who brought two big water trucks, and the fire department has filled up one of their trucks. They give water out in five-gallon buckets to use for bathing, flushing toilets, that sort of thing. We are so thankful for all the community members and those from surrounding areas who have banded together to help.”
It’s an ordeal Aspermont residents are not likely to soon forget.
“It’s been an experience. My dad has a farm north of town that has water, so he took a big water tank from out there into town and hooked up an RV pump so they could have water at home. You go through town and you can see anything from 300-gallon containers to 1,000-gallon tanks, and people are using those RV pumps to get water into their homes,” Spikes said. “It has been quite an enlightening ordeal to think about what people went through 100 years ago. We take so much for granted these days until we don’t have it. The town has been most appreciative of all the donations. That water has been a lifesaver for us.”