When envisioning environmental issues, things like global warming, ocean pollution, and unclean air come to mind. The focus is rarely on the people most affected by environmental issues. Historically, communities of color have been impacted most by environmental issues. Everything from the lead in Flint, Michigan's Water to the toxic plants in Louisiana's "Cancer Ally" have affected colored communities disproportionately. These events are the well-known examples of a widespread and systemic issue: environmental racism.
Environmental racism is defined as the intentional siting of polluting and waste facilities in communities primarily populated by African Americans, Latines, Indigenous People, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, migrant farmworkers, and low-income workers. These communities often lack the resources and influence to challenge harmful policies.
Watered Down Justice, a report co-authored by the National Resources Defense Council, is an analysis of EPA data that reveals there is unequal access to safe drinking water, based most strongly on race. The NRDC conducted an analysis of approximately 50,000 active community water systems in the country and compared trends with sociodemographic factors such as race and income. The report supports the idea that water contamination in communities of color is the result of discrimination and community disinvestment.
DigDeep's Navajo Water Project is an initiative that delivers clean running water to the people of the Navajo Tribal Nation. On the Navajo Nation, 30% of families live without clean running water, often driving miles to collect water for their families. The Navajo Water Project installs water systems near family homes for free. The US government has also implemented policies to increase access to safe drinking water. In 2021, the US passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which allocates 50 billion dollars to improve water infrastructure.