America is the richest country in the world, but some citizens in every state still face limited access to clean drinking water. A new report identifies specific hot spots for limited water access It was published by the U.S. Water Alliance and the Washington D.C.-based policy and research nonprofit, Dig Deep.
Nora Nelson is a hydrologist and a co-author of the report, which is called “Closing the Water Access Gap.” She says some water mains are so outdated that they’re made of wood or lead pipes. Nelson says the U.S. needs over $1 trillion worth of upgrades, improvements and repairs to water infrastructure, all over the country.
“People out there listening, they probably would assume that in a country like the United States, that a basic human right like having access to clean, reliable drinking water would be something that everyone has,” Nelson says. “This is a problem that, while it’s impacting our hot spots, if we don’t do something to address it now, it’s going to start growing in a way that we don’t want to see.”
What you’ll hear in this segment:
– How suburban sprawl and surrounding developments create a donut hole in water infrastructure repair for colonias in Texas
– Why race is the most reliable predictor of water insecurity in communities
– Why water kiosks in colonias are a rare benefit, but not a sustainable fix
Written by Savana Dunning.
