# Sand Branch still without running water > A Dallas County community founded in 1878 has never had municipal water infrastructure, forcing 150 residents to rely on bottled water donations. - Title: Sand Branch still without running water · Dallas Express - Summary: A Dallas County community founded in 1878 has never had municipal water infrastructure, forcing 150 residents to rely on bottled water donations. Sand Branch… - Keywords: sand branch, dallas county, running water, infrastructure, freedmen's settlement, john wiley price, jasmine crockett, water for sand branch coalition, humanitarian crisis, contaminated water, children health, bottled water distribution - Source: Dallas Express — https://dallasexpress.com/city/humanitarian-crisis-dallas-county-settlement-founded-in-1878-still-has-no-running-water - Author: Dallas Express - Published: 2026-09-23T11:00:51+00:00 - Read time: 3 min - Topics: sand branch, dallas county, running water, infrastructure, freedmen's settlement, john wiley price, jasmine crockett, water for sand branch coalition, humanitarian crisis, contaminated water, children health, bottled water distribution ## A community without water Sand Branch, a Dallas County settlement founded in 1878 with roughly 150 residents, has never had municipal running water infrastructure. Residents rely on bottled water donations for drinking, bathing and basic needs. > This is the year 2026, and we are still a community living in a primitive state. ## Wells became contaminated Residents previously relied on wells, but testing found the groundwater unsafe for drinking. The community has depended on bottled water donations for at least 50 years. > The well water has been deemed to not be safe or contaminated or not fit to drink. ## Church distributes water weekly Pastor Frank Alexander of Wayside Baptist Church has spent approximately four years distributing bottled water to Sand Branch residents from a tent alongside the road. ## Children cannot maintain hygiene Without running water, children cannot brush their teeth or bathe at home. After playing at the newly installed community park, kids have no way to wash up before dinner. > The children that are here, they cannot brush their teeth. They cannot do a hygiene method for wiping off or taking a bath. ## One family's six-year struggle Fernando, a Spanish-speaking resident, told the Dallas Express that he and his family have lived in Sand Branch for six years without running water reaching their home. > It's a little bit complicated. ## Health problems reported Residents report that several people in the community have become sick and sought hospital treatment. Some residents showed visible health complications, though the cause could not be independently verified. > There's about three or four people out here ain't got no water, and they get sick, and then plus they go to the different hospital. ## Decades of waiting for solutions Pastor Alexander said residents have spent decades waiting for a permanent solution. He described devastating consequences including deaths, burned homes, and dying livestock. > Many families have died waiting. Many homes have burned down because there's no running water. ## August fire exposed vulnerability An August 29 fire burned roughly 10 acres and spread to two structures. Sand Branch has no fire hydrants, requiring firefighters to bring water into the community. ## Mavericks donate water after fire Following the August fire, organizations including the Dallas Mavericks provided assistance to Sand Branch residents by donating water. ## Candidate criticizes elected officials Jayla Godbolt, a candidate for justice of the peace in Dallas County, criticized County Commissioner John Wiley Price, State Rep. Aicha Davis and former U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett for neglecting the community. > They are not fighting for y'all, so we need to get some people in that's not about lining their pockets. ## Parent homeschools over hygiene fears Godbolt said a resident homeschools her 12-year-old child because she fears the lack of running water could leave the child vulnerable to ridicule over personal hygiene. > She just homeschools her because she doesn't want her baby to face ridicule of being either smelly or people are making fun of her. ## GOP official calls it humanitarian crisis Ajua Mason, interim chair of the Dallas County Republican Party's Candidate Resource Committee, described the conditions as a humanitarian crisis and criticized Commissioner John Wiley Price for ignoring the issue since the 1980s. > When you have kids that can't even take a bath, they have to wait until they go to school to brush their teeth. ## Crockett promised help, delivered nothing Mason criticized former U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, saying she campaigned on helping Sand Branch residents but failed to deliver once in office. > Jasmine Crockett, when she ran for office, she campaigned on the promise of helping the people of Sand Branch. Well, she got into office, and no Jasmine Crockett. ## County offered relocation instead Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price said the county offered voluntary relocation to residents in 2002 and 2016, with roughly 150 accepting. He cited the community's location in a FEMA floodplain and levee construction costs as obstacles. ## Advocates reject relocation solution The Water for Sand Branch Coalition continues to push for permanent water and sewer infrastructure, arguing that relocation is not an adequate substitute for providing basic services to this historic community. ## Key takeaway Sand Branch residents have endured decades without safe running water despite being taxpaying Dallas County citizens, creating health risks especially for children.