I thought that I’d give you a quick update on the Patoka History Project — the final manuscript is complete, and I am now reviewing proofs of the book interior and the cover art (Here’s a sneak peek of the cover). If all goes well, the book will be available later this summer.  

About Those Kids Deserve Water Too;

In Indiana, the Patoka Lake Regional Water and Sewer District is without peer. It provides drinking water to thousands of residential, commercial, and agricultural customers, directly and indirectly, supplying water to thirty-three municipal and not-for-profit water utilities. These customers are scattered across eleven counties in southwestern Indiana, an area uniquely lacking readily available water.

Fifty years ago, America sent men to the moon and led the world in science and technology, yet in Crawford, Dubois, and Orange Counties, thousands relied on water supplies that were little changed from pioneer days—cisterns or shallow wells. Their wells were often poor in quality, high in sulfur, or otherwise contaminated. During droughts, the tanks ran dry, the wells failed, and water for drinking, cooking, and bathing had to be trucked in from springs or nearby towns. Although many of these small towns had dammed local creeks or constructed small lakes, they remained drought-plagued—streams dried up, and lake levels fell. For decades, local leaders struggled to quench their communities’ thirst.

In 1975, that all changed with the creation of the Patoka Lake Regional Water and Sewer District. Forty-four years later, a new generation of users has grown accustomed to a ready supply of clean water. All they need do is turn a faucet. Indeed, without the district, life for thousands of Hoosiers would be drastically different. How local leaders came together to solve this problem is a remarkable story—a story of a shared vision, cooperation, and perseverance.

I want to send a heartfelt thank you to the many folks who have helped me in this journey. It would not have been done but for you.

David Dahl