All too often, state leaders practically dismiss water as a major concern, but they ignore the truth at our very risk — and the latest example hits pretty close to home, involving regional water suppliers now contending with arsenic in the groundwater.

Fear not. The arsenic is a natural toxin. But while not immediately dangerous to customers of certain water suppliers in McLennan, Falls, Hill and Limestone counties, the toxin could pose adverse long-range effects, including skin damage, circulatory problems and cancer.

Tribune-Herald staff writer J.B. Smith’s Page One story on Nov. 8 reveals a resourceful and earnest conglomerate called the Falls-Hill-Limestone-McLennan Water Supply Corp. that actively seeks solutions for its individual members, mostly regional water suppliers.

Likely solution, and most cost-effective one: Blending groundwater with treated water from Waco, diluting the strength of the arsenic and making the water safer to consume. But like so many problems, even this “watered-down” solution is costly: Construction of a pipeline alone could total $20 million.

Operating and purchasing costs thereafter mean another $3.4 million a year.

Mixing Lake Waco water with troublesome groundwater in equal proportions will hike average water bills from $376 to $517 for 21,000 rural customers. And the arsenic problem only gets worse as the level of groundwater drops, which, of course, presents other problems as well.

Fortunately, state environmental officials are encouraged by the progress of the FHLM Water Supply Corp. and are holding off on noncompliance penalties. And Texas Water Development Board officials are encouraged that water suppliers have been so smart and proactive in seeking out solutions. As Charles Beseda, president of the water supply corporation, told Smith: “We don’t want to leave something for future generations to deal with.”

Texas Water Development Board officials tell us they’re not sure how much state and federal aid is available for the pipeline project, but state Sen. Brian Birdwell and state Reps. Charles “Doc” Anderson and Marva Beck need to focus more on this and the broader issue of water needs. We especially look to Beck on this matter. She won on the strength of her appeal to the very rural stretches from which she hails and should have at least some insight into rural water corporations; the growing problems involving groundwater (besides just who owns it), including dropping water levels in the Trinity Aquifer; and the whole overlooked issue of water needs for a growing state in the coming decades. All told, water is far more important than much else making headlines.