Improving the quality of rural living through water and wastewater services.

• Author: Seal, John A., Jr.
• Position: Talquin Electric Cooperative

The rural electric program, as we know it today, has been one of the most successful of all ventures to deliver service to people in rural America. That service has changed their life in a positive manner by improving their general welfare. Perhaps we, as rural electric cooperatives, can again take on a role of leadership and service to the rural resident. By seeking ways to provide them with adequate and safe drinking water supplies, we will improve their health and general welfare.

The story of how Talquin became involved in the water business begins during the early 1960s. Talquin was still rapidly expanding during that time. During the decade from 1964 to 1973, we added 904 miles of electric line to our system, whereas during the following decade we added only 555 miles of line.

The population shift from rural areas to urban areas, which began early in the century, slowed considerably. In fact, it began to turn in the opposite direction, back to the rural areas. In our area, this meant developers were moving farther and farther from urban areas to develop residential communities. City utilities did not serve these communities because they were outside the cities. However, people accustomed to the utility services available in urban areas were moving into these communities. They wanted the same services in their new communities. Those services, of course, included water and wastewater.

Developers recognized the advantages of constructing water and wastewater systems for their developments. After selling their lots, however, they were ready to move on to developing more. Many developers found they did not want to be in the utility business. It was logical for developers to look to someone already in the utility business for a solution to their system operation and maintenance requirements.

This was a new development pattern in the rural areas we served. As a result, our Cooperative received requests to assume responsibilities for operating and maintaining the water and wastewater systems the developers installed. The Cooperative thoroughly investigated the requests received in seeking to preserve its service area and to expand its service role to its members. We found it to be to the Cooperative's advantage to accept water and wastewater treatment systems constructed by developers for future operation.

Our first water system acquisition took place in 1964 when we assumed operating responsibilities for three water systems. Today, we operate a total of 23 water systems. Sixteen serve more than 100 residential subdivision-type developments. The balance, being rural-type water systems, serve large general areas. Besides our water system operations, we operate six wastewater treatment systems.

Assuming responsibility for operating and maintaining planned water systems within rural subdivision developments is one chapter of our rural water story. The second chapter of our story deals with...