Jean Yang:
There is a town of 150,000 inhabitants where, for years, residents have periodically been advised to boil their tap water. And for a week last summer, there was no reliable water service. It’s not in a developing country. It’s here in the United States. Jackson, Mississippi. Although extreme, this is not an isolated case.
Last year, drinking water was found to be contaminated in parts of New York City, Baltimore and the state of Hawaii. Of course, Flint, Michigan, is still dealing with the effects of its lead contamination.
Why do so many cities have drinking water problems? Shannon Marquez is Dean of Global Engagement and Professor of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene at Columbia University. Shannon, I’m just going to start with this question. Why is one of the most prosperous countries in the world struggling to provide clean water to every home?
