Jacqueline Taylor remembers the days of hauling water to her residence in Seal City. She cringes at the thought of having to do it again.
"We need water," she said. "It's very important to us."
The Blue Lake Water Association supplies water for this cluster of mobile homes and nearby Berclair and Colony Town.
The association owes more than $20,000 to its supplier, Itta Bena.
Last week, the Itta Bena Board of Aldermen devised a payment plan to clear the 4-year-old debt. Blue Lake Water Association Manager Ollie Seals, who lives in Seal City, declined to talk about the move or the debt.
Itta Bena city officials want the water association to add $300 a month to its regular payments. The bill averages between $700 and $800, according to City Clerk Mary O'Banner.
Mayor Thelma Collins said the board doesn't want to penalize the water recipients for their supplier's debt.
But not much time will pass before the city is forced to cut off the association's water supply.
"Itta Bena is going through a serious financial dilemma. We need all monies due to the city to operate effectively," Collins said.
The city has considered using a collection agency but would rather give the association another chance, the mayor added.
Meanwhile in Seal City, Taylor was shocked to discover how much the water association owed Itta Bena. She relies on the water to wash clothes, cook meals and bathe herself and five children.
When she moved to Seal City 10 years ago, Taylor picked up her water from a well about two miles away from her house.
The possibility of going back to that "doesn't make me feel good at all," she said.
The water association organized in 1989 and began providing water in 1993.
using a collection agency but would rather give the association another chance, the mayor added.
Meanwhile in Seal City, Taylor was shocked to discover how much the water association owed Itta Bena. She relies on the water to wash clothes, cook meals and bathe herself and five children.
When she moved to Seal City 10 years ago, Taylor picked up her water from a well about two miles away from her house. The possibility of going back to that "doesn't make me feel good at all," she said.
The water association organized in 1989 and began providing water in 1993.
