The Invisible Crisis: Water Unaffordability in the United States
Type
Policy Brief or Report
Year
2016
Level
City or Town, National, State
State(s)
All States
Policy Areas
Economic Justice, Environment & Natural Resources, Health
A sizable portion of the US population lacks continuous access to safe sources of water, undermining their dignity, health, living standards, and even family rights. Service providers and governments at the local, state and national levels must take immediate steps to address the country’s drinking water and sanitation crisis. At all levels, affordability standards and measures must be put in place, first through executive action, followed by legislative mandate. These suggestions come alongside recommendations of ensuring nondiscriminatory universal access to safe and affordable drinking water, establishing affordability standards for safe drinking water, and banning water shutoffs for nonpayment when customers do not have the ability to pay.