JJ seemed excited about some of the articles; not all of them applied directly to the research but provided good background research or methods that could be useful for her research.
I helped JJ complete a Water Systems Table. In this table I called various water departments throughout Wilcox and Sumter County. I asked the appropriate person (usually the individuals who the phone didn't know the answers to the questions I asked)if the water was public or privately owned. Then I asked what the connection fee is (not including the meter cost) and the basic rate/overcharge for water. The final question asked them to estimate how many people were not connected to water in their area... most people had no idea.
The people I spoke with were genuinely rude. They were impatient and seemed annoyed. On this table JJ filled in the blank if the water department had ground or surface water and if they had surface water I had to ask a couple extra questions:
1. If the water system uses surface water (you can get this info from the table), then ask where the water is coming from, what is the source?
2. If the water system uses purchased surface water, where do they purchase it from?
I had no idea the way water was charged to individuals. I didn't realize there was a rate for 2000 gallons (usually) and then an overcharge rate per 1000 gallons used.
I am waiting for a phone call this morning to see how I can help her today. It's hard to believe there has been a death and a birth in my family within two weeks, thus I have been in Birmingham a lot. JJ mentioned sending out the water quality reports to the 300 residents as part of my next task.
I am looking forward to being back in Tuscaloosa post finals, birth, death, and ready to help here.
-Justinn
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