3 Ways We Can Fight for Clean Drinking Water for All Americans

In one of the world’s wealthiest countries, access to clean water should be a given. However, that’s not the case for at least 2 million people in the United States.

A lack of drinking water can endanger health, create personal hardship, and even contribute to higher unemployment. It’s also an issue that predominately affects marginalized and low-income communities — particularly in African American, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American households.

These households lack safe water access partly because water pipes might not be connected to their larger communities. Take Tulare County in California as an example: In the county’s 1971 general plan, it did not allocate investments for water infrastructure to 15 communities, believing they were likely to depopulate. However, people continue to live in 13 of those communities, even if that means going out of their way to secure a resource that many consider to be a given.

How Lack of Access to Water Affects Lives

Water isn’t optional — if it’s not available locally, it must be found somewhere else. Close the Water Gap’s field research found instances of people living on a Navajo reservation driving 40 miles away every few days to collect even the minimum amount of water needed to live. This water often comes from multiple sites, and one respondent claimed they pay for $200 of gas each month just to fetch it. In a remote part of Texas, residents purchase trucked-in water for up to $250 a month — however, they still can’t trust whether it’s clean enough to safely drink and use it only for bathing and cleaning.

With challenges like these, families living in communities without reliable water access are forced to ration their water resources. In the area of Texas mentioned above, households of up to eight people survive on 50 to 100 gallons of water each month (according to the Environmental Protection Agency, the national average water use per individual is 88 gallons per month).

These are all measures that no one living in the U.S. should have to take. However, unless we take sustained and vigorous action, water inequity will continue to be a reality across the country.

3 Steps Toward Extending Water Access

Although water access is a complex and multifaceted issue, there are still ways we can work toward bridging the gap. Here are three actions we can take to ensure equitable water access for all:

1. Measure the extent of the problem. This first step is critical in order to carefully and publicly assess communities that lack water access and measure how that affects daily life.

This might start with mobilizing a specific survey to gather relevant data related to water access. For example, the Department of Housing and Urban Development activates a one-day point-in-time effort to count the homeless population across the U.S., and it relies on a national network of partners and service providers to do so. Although the process isn’t perfect, it’s a sizable effort to gauge a problem that (like safe water access) is uniquely difficult to measure. Conducting a water access survey could require creating a similar method or capitalizing on active partnerships to enhance what organizations do now. The EPA, for instance, already has robust data that could provide a good starting point, and the agency would be a key partner in any needs assessment.

The 2030 U.S. census could also be a good option for measuring water access in the future. The new census could include questions about whether households have adequate plumbing; and to gain a more complete picture, it might also ask questions regarding water quality and how much residents pay for water. Once this data is available, government organizations such as the EPA and Department of Agriculture could compile data and integrate funding requests made to both agencies. If they work together, they can share data and address those requests by priority. After all, simply sharing data has the potential to transform the federal funding landscape.

2. Bring water regulations in line with reality. Our current water access regulations are out-of-date and don’t always take vulnerable communities into account. In the U.S., there are about 50,000 regulated community water systems — but 40% of these systems have violated one or more drinking water safety standards. Nearly one-third of community water systems have also faced violations for faulty monitoring and reporting. Clearly, regulations at all levels of government should be updated to reflect the current circumstances.

For example, new legislation can ensure that allocated funds go toward helping affected communities build new infrastructure. At the same time, we must increase opportunities for the EPA and USDA water divisions to integrate funding efforts to divert payments to systems with compliance violations. Joining forces strategically and financially could help prioritize limited resources for the communities most in need. Consider the EPA’s Drinking Water Grants, which already help ensure safe water access in small or marginalized communities. Likewise, program leaders at agencies across the board are collaborating more than ever before. In combining agency resources, they can work toward their goal of assisting thousands of chronically noncompliant systems.

Additionally, many towns without water access are near the communities that do offer clean water (in California’s San Joaquin Valley, for instance, more than three-quarters of disadvantaged communities without safe water are located less than a mile away from other communities with safer systems). Although these larger systems can merge with smaller ones, it’s expensive to repair old infrastructure or bring water services up to par (which can also reflect in service bills). However, grants such as these could function as an incentive.

Concerned citizens can also play a role in advocating for and encouraging this change. Connecting with your state’s USDA or regional EPA office to discuss available funding would be a good start. Another option is attending relevant city council meetings and expressing a desire to work as a partner with neighboring municipalities to ensure safe water access for all.

3. Support water charity organizations. Although legislative and surveying changes might feel beyond your control, individuals can support local organizations working to help solve this pressing problem.

One great place to start is with charity: water, which helps individuals to raise money on their own with step-by-step guidance for promoting their campaigns. Other options include Water.org, a globally oriented organization that works to provide small loans to help ensure access to safe water. Finally, WaterAid is another group working to make sure that everyone has fresh water for drinking, sanitation, and bathing. To find other water charities putting their funding and programs to good use, consult Charity Navigator.

To find information about water access in your own locality, start by contacting your state’s National Rural Water Association office. Besides securing this information, it’s always a good idea to reach out to your local and state elected officials with inquiries.

We can make an enormous difference in the lives of some of the most vulnerable Americans, but change must start now. Encourage your municipal and state governments to measure the water access gap and enact new policies to ameliorate it. Likewise, consider donating your time or money to these national and international groups working to create positive change in how people receive water. We have to ensure that everyone living in the U.S. has access to this basic necessity.

This article was originally published on Peak Prosperity.