SAND BRANCH, Texas — Representatives from the Nationwide Wildlife Federation and the Environmental Safety Company attended a Saturday assembly in Sandbranch to speak about getting consuming water to the group.

Positioned about 20 minutes south of Dallas, Sandbranch was based by freed individuals of shade within the 1800s and is in unincorporated Dallas County. The group has not had entry to a municipal water or sewage system in roughly 30 years.

“My factor is: I simply need to see this as a daily group,” resident Phyllis Gage mentioned. “I’ve a effectively. The effectively is so previous that the water has sand constructed up in it so you’ll be able to’t drink this water.”

Residents depend on bottled water for cooking, bathing and consuming.

“We’re paying taxes. So the place’s my tax cash going?” Gage mentioned.

Group members instructed WFAA they’ve little religion in native authorities to discover a answer. There was a gathering Saturday to speak about SOURCE Hydropanels as a approach to get consuming water to the group.

A clearer understanding is laid out right here, however primarily, the panels are powered by the solar and use followers to attract in ambient air that traps water vapors from that air.

The water vapor is extracted and condensed into liquid type in a reservoir within the panel. Minerals are then added to make the water drinkable.

Per SOURCE, a panel could make 4-10 liters every day on common.

4 Sandbranch houses have already got hydro panels, together with Juanita Bean’s home.

“However after I received this, I used to be very blissful,” Bean mentioned.

Group supporter Tonnette Byrd instructed WFAA seven different houses shall be getting Hydropanels quickly: Two of these houses have been funded by the Nationwide Wildlife Federation.

“It’s nearly like a 3rd world nation,” mentioned Dr. Adrienne Hollis, who leads the Nationwide Wildlife Federation’s environmental justice group. “However the group is so resilient within the face of all of that.”

Throughout Saturday’s assembly in Sandbranch, Hollis known as on different organizations to assist pay for hydro panels for six extra houses.

Hollis instructed WFAA it prices round $8,000 to outfit one house with two hydropanels.

Byrd, who led Saturday’s assembly, identified that hydropanels aren’t a everlasting answer: The purpose is a consuming water system.

Cash for that might include assist from the Environmental Safety Company. Charles Maguire is the EPA Area 6 Water Division Director. He instructed WFAA he attended Saturday’s assembly to see the circumstances firsthand.

“Can’t promise anyone the cash as a result of it’s a aggressive course of for these grants, however this might be a really probably recipient of these grants as a result of it’s precisely what the Congress was desirous about once they handed that legislation,” Maguire mentioned.

To make a donation to pay for hydro panels for Sandbranch residents, click on right here and choose “Sandbranch Revitalization Fund.”