(06/07/06) WANTAGE ? Many homeowners in Wantage get through their daily routines without one of the conveniences of modern life ? running water.

The problem stems from water wells in the area. Homeowners say they?ve run dry, forcing many residents to take on inconvenient tasks during the day. Some need to haul water to the toilet in order to flush. Others must collect rainwater in trashcans outside their home.

Although the homeowners believe the town should help, Wantage officials say it?s not their problem. Representatives of the town say the dry wells are a home improvement problem, much like a leaky roof or broken heater. They claim it will cost about $150,000 per home to attach the houses to a water system just two miles away.

Residents have fired back at the town for its stance, claiming the homes should never have been built in the first place. A county water study conducted in 1979 found wells in the area would be unreliable due to the rocky ground. However, that study did not say homes shouldn?t be built in the area.

Related information: I-Team Investigates