The Big Mist By Charles Fishman Analysis

Residents of Montgomery County in southeast Texas are completely unaware of their depleting aquifers, thanks to the leaders they elected who have neglected the issue and continue on as if it is non-existent. The gulf coast aquifers that they obtain their water supply from are not able to produce enough water fast enough to meet the increasing demands from the county's growing population. When the regulations cap on pumping is reached other sources have been sought out including lake Conroe. However, pumping from other sources requires tests to be ran to check for cleanliness and the safety of the water. When the water is coming from somewhere other than an aquifer tests have to be run and filtering processes have to begin, which can become very costly.
Like montgomery county, Atlanta, Georgia was coming close to the end of their water supply. Since they were also ignoring this fact, “city, state, and federal officials had no plan for what to do if Atlanta actually did run dry”(100). Luckily it did not, this time. Fishman also thoroughly describes the aftermath of Hurricane Ike in Galveston, Texas. The reader hears Fishman’s first hand experience as he is in Galveston trying to help alleviate some of the problems. He notes how he washes his hands with dirty water. He cannot even grasp what this means. He compares it to how his dog “routinely slurps from thoroughly ugly puddles. What does it mean to wash your hands with water that is officially unfit for a dog?”(90). Galveston Island was evacuated before the storm hit, but for people who had no choice but to stay faced 10+ days without electricity or clean water. They were even facing the harsh reality that there soon might be no water for them to