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WEST ODESSA — When Paula Graham’s family moved here to chase the oil boom in the 1980s, this unincorporated portion of Ector County was scarcely populated. Roads were barely paved. There was no running water.

In the decades since, the lonely stretch of roads is now full of other trailer homes. Despite the boom, there is still no access to clean and reliable drinking water.

Families like Graham’s rely on wells and pump systems they’ve installed and must maintain themselves. She fears the increased population is straining her well and that it will dry up.

For the last four years, Graham has asked the local water utility about adding lines from nearby Odessa, w

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