"TALLULAH, La., and COTTON PLANT, Ark. — The water looked like coffee as it ran from the tap.
Even simple chores like laundry and dishwashing became nearly impossible, the water running like a medium roast brew from the faucet into the sink of Donald Wood’s home, staining clothes and appliances.
“I can’t recall the number of times I’ve driven to Vicksburg and rented a motel room just to take a shower,” Wood said, a drive of about 30 minutes each way. “Imagine bathing or showering or brushing your teeth in such filth.”
Wood is a longtime resident of the city of Tallulah. Nestled in Madison Parish, amongst expansive farm fields and venerable pecan groves, it’s known throughout the state for its decades-long struggle with poor quality drinking water.
“Several people here, when the water became so bad, so frequently, bought very expensive filters that they would put outside their house and to filter the yuck out of the water,” Wood said. "
