They Use Wooden Water Pipes in Truth or Consequences?

This boggles the mind:

But amid a worsening regional drought, the town with the curious name is losing 200 million gallons of potable water a year because of antiquated underground pipes that leak, spit and sometimes gush 30 feet into the air, putting not only its nearly 6,000 residents at risk of having their water shut off but also threatening operations at the city's five public schools and its only hospital and nursing home. 

Schools have already been forced to close without warning several times over the last year as water is shut off while repairs are made, city officials said. 

The system is so old it includes wooden pipes built in the 1800s and is patched up by one worker from the city’s Water Department and two others on loan from the sewer department. Last week, they were responsible for fixing 14 broken lines, 11 of which occurred on a single day, wastewater director Arnulfo Castañeda said. 

Resident Susan Abts, 72, said her water was abruptly cut off last month after a break near her home caused a gusher to shoot 30 feet into the air. 

“I’m concerned where this is going,” she said.