Solving Our Drinking Water Challenges Begins with the Community, Report Says

A new report by the U.S. Water Alliance and the Water Foundation highlights the results of four regional roundtables that show how to drive policy change at the local and tribal levels.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the United States faced significant drinking water challenges. The pandemic has only accelerated and exacerbated those issues. Millions of people live in places where their tap water is toxic, causing acute sickness and chronic disease. Many others struggle to pay monthly water bills. Still other families lack indoor plumbing entirely. Many communities confront these challenges, yet black, indigenous, communities of color, and lower-income neighborhoods are the most negatively impacted. Ensuring access to safe drinking water requires addressing each of these problems.

This new report, “Policy Innovations to Secure Drinking Water For All,” published by the U.S. Water Alliance and the Water Foundation, shows how a One Water future is possible through communities’ bold leadership and collaboration.

Over the course of several months in late 2019 and early 2020, the U.S. Water Alliance and the Water Foundation facilitated four regional roundtables, where public officials, utility managers, nonprofit leaders, and community organizers convened to understand and address drinking water challenges. The roundtables’ findings show that communities can drive progress, solve drinking water challenges, and promote policies.

Read the report and blog to learn more about the discussions at the roundtables and the solutions the participants found. By working together, we can solve US drinking water challenges and provide safe water for all.

Source: U.S. Water Alliance

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