The Dallas County community where about 100 people live without running water or sewer service has been approved to operate a water supply corporation-- a step toward bringing services there.
Many have tried, and failed, to bring water to Sandbranch. This time around, the community has an advocate: Dallas attorney has volunteered his time and expertise.
Interview Highlights: Mark McPherson On鈥�
鈥hy he took this case pro bono: 鈥淭he first time I was ever in Sandbranch was Feb. 29, and I was taken aback by what I saw. I couldn鈥檛 believe that those conditions could happen in the United States, much less in Dallas, Texas. Sandbranch needed its own voice, it needed its own expertise. I have such a unique, niche practice and for me to be in a place where my expertise is the one that鈥檚 needed, was just a divine coincidence.鈥�
鈥ow far along Sandbranch is: 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to use a little bit of a different process than has been used in the past. There have been other efforts, of course, to try to bring these services to Sandbranch but they鈥檝e never gotten across the finish line. In this instance we have the United States Department of Agriculture that鈥檚 really stepped up and said it is one of our highest priorities in the United States to get water and sewer to Sandbranch. They鈥檙e going to provide a grant for engineering services to design the system and then put a cost on that system. From there the USDA will then in phase 2 fund the actual system and put the physical system in the ground, both water and sewer.鈥�
