Arizona State University researchers will lead a panel discussion on household water insecurity at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting, which takes place in Phoenix next week.
The panel, “Beyond the Tap: Water Insecurity in the United States,” is organized by Patrick Thomson, a research scientist with ASU’s Arizona Water for All project and will be moderated by Regents and President’s Professor Alexandra Brewis from ASU’s School of Human Evolution and Social Change. The session focuses on growing evidence that water insecurity is an increasing challenge in the United States and other high-income countries.
While water insecurity is often associated with low-income regions, many communities across the U.S. face unreliable access to safe and affordable water. Aging infrastructure, lack of maintenance, and institutional inertia have left water systems vulnerable to extreme weather events such as last year’s Los Angeles wildfires and the recent Eastern Freeze. Rural areas, particularly in the U.S. southern border region, Appalachia and Tribal communities, are especially affected and often rely on small systems, unregulated wells, or trucked water.
National trends show increasing water quality violations and recent studies report unexpected levels of plumbing poverty in U.S. cities. Increased tap water avoidance, due to cost and quality concerns and broader skepticism of piped water supply, are contributing to greater reliance on bottled water and deepening health and economic disparities.
“The problem is complex and deep-seated. It is impossible to fully understand the scope of water insecurity in the U.S. by measuring coverage and cost alone,” said Thomson, who is an incoming faculty member of ASU’s School of Human Evolution and Social Change. “Developing nationally-comparable metrics that better reflect people’s lived experience of water insecurity is a critical step toward understanding the issue and then improving health and wellbeing by giving people a safe, reliable, and trusted water supply.”
Panelists will present research on household water insecurity in the United States and share preliminary findings from a new national study, including: Wendy Jepson, University Professor at Texas A&M University, will discuss national patterns in water insecurity; Justin Stoler, professor at the University of Miami, will present work on diminishing trust in water providers; and Melissa Beresford, associate professor at San José State University, will share new ways of conceptualizing water affordability in the U.S.
The panel will take place as part of the AAAS Annual Meeting, which brings together scientists, policymakers and members of the public from around the world to discuss advances in science and their implications for society.