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The US faces a crisis regarding children’s access to clean and safe water. Over two million Americans lack access to running water, indoor plumbing, or wastewater services. In addition, many are exposed to harmful pollutants and waterborne diseases in their drinking water for several reasons, including industrial pollution, crumbling infrastructure, leaching from lead pipes, and agricultural runoff. An additional concern is the potential and unknown exposures of the more than 40 million people (15 million homes) in the US who drink water or cook or mix infant formula with water from private wells, especially in rural areas, which are not regulated.
Clean water and sanitation are human rights and essential to the health and development of all people, especially children. However, despite the importance of clean water, it remains out of reach for some of the most vulnerable children in the US and the communities where they live, including communities of color (Black, Latino/a/x, Indigenous) and communities in areas of lower wealth. For instance, it is estimated that 48% of American Indian/Alaska Native households do not have access to clean water or adequate sanitation. Their homes are also 19 times more likely than White households to lack indoor plumbing.
Children are especially vulnerable to the adverse impacts of pollutants in drinking water. Children drink more water per pound of body weight than adults, which can result in higher exposures; their bodies, immune systems, and brains are still developing. It canalso be harder for their systems to break down and eliminate harmful chemicals that enter their bodies. For instance, long-term exposure to contaminants from industrial farms, such as nitrate from fertilizers or atrazine, an herbicide, can have long-term impacts and disrupt hormone function.
There is no safe level of lead for children. Lead can affect almost every organ and system in a child’s body and can result in permanent damage in young children. These effects, including brain damage and reduced IQ, can occur at low levels of exposure to lead sources often found in homes, schools, and child care facilities.
Lead can be absorbed (“leached”) into drinking water when plumbing materials that contain lead corrode. The most common sources of lead in drinking water are lead service lines, lead pipes, faucets, and fixtures.
Communities with lower wealth or that are majority Black, Brown, or Indigenous have higher rates of children with lead poisoning. This is due to racist U.S. housing policies (e.g., redlining), which lead to these families living in older housing in poorer condition in neighborhoods with more industrial contamination. These homes are more likely to have lead hazards, such as lead-based paint, lead service lines, and lead contaminated soil.
In the past couple of years, we’ve seen action to reduce lead exposure from drinking water at the federal level, including much-needed updates to the Lead and Copper Rule and billions in funding for states to support lead service line replacement programs. However, many homes across the country still have lead hazards, and many of the most vulnerable are renters who lack the power and resources to mitigate these risks.
PFAS, short for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, are a group of human-made chemicals widely used since the 1950s to make various products resistant to grease and water. They are often called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down easily in the environment, persisting in soil and water for extended periods. PFAS, which includes PFOA, PFOS, GenX, have been used in many consumer products and in fire-fighting foam. They are showing up in fish and drinking water sources, including small wells. The science on the health impacts of exposure to PFAS is still emerging; however, they may affect growth, learning, and behavior in infants and older children,interfere with natural hormone levels in the body, and affect the immune system (making certain vaccines less effective). There is an indication they may cause cancer.
Since there is no way to reduce the PFAS in our bodies, it’s best to reduce our intake of the chemicals. When it comes to drinking water, we can reduce our exposure by using a water filter that’s certified to remove PFAS. You can also carry bottled water in stainless steel or shatter-proof glass bottles, rather than plastic ones.
EPA is establishing the first-ever nationwide, legally enforceable drinking water standards to protect communities from PFAS in their drinking water.
Our drinking water can also be contaminated by other sources, like pesticides and fertilizers used on farms, manufacturing byproducts, or fossil fuel extraction, transportation, production, and disposal. These chemicals can cause cancer, damage the brain and nervous system, create fertility issues, disrupt hormones, and cause other health problems.
Our streams, rivers, and wetlands feed our aquifers, which eventually make their way to our public and private water systems. A recent report by the EPA estimated that 39% of American rivers, 45% of our lakes, and 51% of the estuaries monitored in the US are too polluted for drinking or outdoor recreation. We must take better care of our water sources. Efforts to conserve, clean, and protect our waterways are ultimately children’s environmental health actions.
Recreational water bodies also Even before water reaches our homes, it can influence children’s health. Access to “blue spaces” like clean rivers, lakes, and streams can improve kids’ physical and mental health issues like asthma, ADHD, stress, anxiety, and depression.
Vote for candidates who:
Use only cold water for drinking and cooking, especially when making baby formula, as cold water is less likely to leach lead from pipes or fixtures.
Flush your water at the tap before each use and collect the water for non-potable activities. Contact your local water utility to gather more information on suggested flushing times.
If your water comes from a community water system, call the water utility to see if they have records about lead service lines in your area. The water utility may also be able to inspect your home if records are unavailable. If the utility cannot help, or if your water comes from a private water supply, consider hiring a licensed plumber to investigate.
Spend time outside in safe blue spaces with the kids in your life.
Take part in local stream cleanups or other water conservation activities with the kids in your life, and talk about the importance of clean water.
Championing equitable investment in state and local infrastructure, including accelerated full lead service line replacements.
Supporting testing and reporting standards for privately owned water sources.
Developing resources on clean water and children’s health for healthcare professionals, child care providers, teachers, public health professionals, and policymakers.
Speaking at and hosting webinars and educational and advocacy events related to clean water.
Training child care providers on best practices to protect kids' health from lead in water at their facilities.
Incorporating children’s environmental health into child care health and safety standards.
Collaborating with and leading coalitions and groups focused on clean water, lead service line removal, and conservation efforts.
