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Sunday, April 18th, 2021

60 Million Americans Don’t Drink Their Tap Water – Here’s Why That’s a Public Health Problem

Author:     Asher Rosinger
Source:     EcoWatch
Publication Date:     Apr. 15, 2021 01:51PM EST
 Link: 60 Million Americans Don’t Drink Their Tap Water – Here’s Why That’s a Public Health Problem
Stephan:   There was a time when American infrastructure from bridges to water supplies was the envy of the world. But that time is long past. American infrastructure has been deteriorating for decades, and the evidence is clear that water companies and government at every level all spend as little as possible on its maintenance. As a result, this is where the United now stands -- at the level of some developing countries.
Researchers say there’s a growing epidemic of tap water distrust and disuse in the U.S. 
Credit: Teresa Short / Moment Open / Getty

Imagine seeing a news report about lead contamination in drinking water in a community that looks like yours. It might make you think twice about whether to drink your tap water or serve it to your kids – especially if you also have experienced tap water problems in the past.

In a new study, my colleagues Anisha Patel, Francesca Weaks and I estimate that approximately 61.4 million people in the U.S. did not drink their tap water as of 2017-2018. Our research, which was released in preprint format on April 8, 2021, and has not yet been peer reviewed, found that this number has grown sharply in the past several years.

Other research has shown that about 2 million Americans don’t have access to clean water. Taking that into account, our findings suggest that about 59 million people have tap water access from either their municipality or private wells or cisterns, […]

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