Racial disparities in the Safe Drinking Water Act enforcement within the USA

What is it about?

In the USA, there are national standards for drinking water quality. Accordingly, the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) helps to solve concerns regarding poor water quality. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can address complaints regarding water quality. But the time taken to address SDWA complaints can vary from county to county. In this study, researchers examined the racial composition of residents in different USA counties. They looked at the percentages of Black, Hispanic, and White residents. They also collected data on how long it took to address complaints related to the SDWA. Then, they compared these two datasets. They wanted to see if there was a relationship between the race of the residents. They also studied the time it took to resolve SDWA complaints. The results show that complaints filed under SDWA take more time to get resolved in counties with larger populations of Black and Hispanic residents. Meanwhile, complaints tend to be resolved more quickly in counties with a higher percentage of White residents. As the percentage of White residents in an area increases, the time required to address these complaints decreases.

Featured Image

Photo by Manki Kim on Unsplash

Photo by Manki Kim on Unsplash

Why is it important?

In the past, race has influenced the planning of major projects, including water systems in the USA. The role of race in urban planning has had an unequal impact on the health of minorities. Although racial discrimination has decreased in the USA, some problems remain. It is crucial to understand how racial discrimination in urban planning affects the health of minorities. KEY TAKEAWAY: Complaints about water quality issues take longer to resolve in USA counties with higher percentages of Black and Hispanic residents. This could be due to racialized urban planning and long-term disinvestment in water infrastructure. This research relates to the following Sustainable Development Goals: • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities • SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities