Ben Bolt residents have been living with septic sewers for decades that pose health risks to the community when not in compliance.

The Jim Wells County Fresh Water District is working on a $65 million USDA grant project to bring a modern sewer system to the rural community, where nearly 700 residents currently rely on septic tanks or other improvised methods.

Jose Solis, who has lived in Ben Bolt for over 40 years, attended a town hall meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 6, to learn more about the project.

"I said 'man, that's awesome.' I hope we get it. And there had already been talk for a while that they had wanted to bring it," Solis said.

Solis currently has a septic tank for his mobile home, but not everything is connected to it. He runs his shower and washer lines out to flow into his ya

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