Our front page story this week describes a waste of public water in Kildonan, which exemplifies the meaning of the word impasse.
With no progress in sight, it is easy to see how the situation has managed to drag on for so many years and how it could easily continue if left unresolved.
It is a multi-faceted issue with no clear solution in sight as it seems no-one is willing to accept responsibility. And why would they? Why would anyone wish to incur a cost or burden for which they do not believe they are responsible for?