In an era where housing prices are soaring, over a million Americans find themselves living without access to running water, a situation now spreading into well-off urban areas, according to recent studies.
A recent study published in Nature Cities reveals that a growing number of Americans are being financially squeezed due to escalating housing costs, everyday expenses such as groceries and utilities, and debts related to medical care and education. Researchers are identifying an increasing trend of “plumbing poverty” which, while traditionally seen in rural settings, is now increasingly common in major cities including Portland, Phoenix, Houston, and New York.
The study points out that “unaffordable housing, stagnant salaries, and a rising cost of living” are driving more families into situations where they lack secure and dependable access to running water.
Living without running water can mean different things for different households. Some might prioritize covering rent or mortgage payments over their water bills. Others could be dealing with broken or clogged plumbing but cannot afford repairs. There are also those residing in subpar living conditions or in buildings never intended for residential use, like industrial warehouses.
While rare, some regions might experience widespread water outages or contamination issues, similar to those in Flint, Michigan, and Jackson, Mississippi.
According to researcher Meehan, the census struggles to accurately count the unhoused population and communities of color, which are often disproportionately affected by issues like lack of running water and are labeled as “hard to count.” Moreover, those who do respond to census inquiries may be reluctant to disclose their living conditions without running water.
Meehan believes that their findings likely represent a significant underestimation of the true scope of this issue. She suggests that the real figures could be double the current estimates.
As of 2021, New York City had the highest number of people living without running water, with approximately 24,700 households and 56,900 individuals affected.
Since 2000, New York has seen substantial improvement, reducing the number of people without water from an estimated 158,000. However, other cities like Phoenix and San Francisco have shown little progress in addressing the issue. In Portland, Oregon, where Meehan is based, the situation has actually deteriorated.
The researchers conclude that addressing this issue will require a monumental and fundamental transformation in housing conditions and societal infrastructures.
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Passionate about analyzing economic markets, Alice M. Carter joined THE NORTHERN FORUM with a mission: to make financial concepts accessible to everyone. With over 10 years of experience in economic journalism, she specializes in global economic trends and US financial policies. She firmly believes that a better understanding of the economy is the key to a more informed future.