Lead-tainted drinking water in East Chicago is yet another reminder that our nation’s water infrastructure problems are not limited to Flint. Since 1977, federal per capita spending on water infrastructure has plummeted by 82 percent. If this trend is not reversed, many more communities will have to contend with poisoned water, higher water service rates and the logistical and financial challenges of replacing outdated lead pipes.
It will likely get worse under the current presidential administration. President Donald Trump has already indicated that his plans for our water will serve his corporate cronies more than the public. In addition to his plans to gut key environmental regulations and slash Environmental Protection Agency staff, his water infrastructure plan will make water service less affordable, while eliminating local jobs and endangering water quality, because it would encourage water systems to be privatized.
Sadly, problems like this disproportionately affect the economically disadvantaged and communities of color. Without needed federal support, communities such as New Orleans and Youngstown, Ohio, are having to raise water rates to comply with water quality standards — pricing low-income households out of service.
We need a major federal investment in our public water infrastructure to ensure universal access to safe and clean water. Congress must create a dedicated source of federal funding for our drinking water and wastewater infrastructure to solve the problems plaguing East Chicago, Flint and so many others, and to prevent future disasters of this nature.
— Jessica Fujan, director, Midwest region, Food & Water Watch
