We are seeing only the broadest outline of the problem. Census data doesn't tell us which communities are too remote to be served by traditional water lines, which are too poor to afford their own septic systems, or which live too close to water sources contaminated by agriculture or industry. It doesn't tell us how communities cope with these challenges every day. Most important, census data doesn't explain why these communities still don't have access to water and sanitation when nearly every other American does. Without it we can't forge the right policy solutions, accelerate the implementation of essential water projects, or build the public and political will to end this problem once and for all.

Source: Los Angeles Times March 22, 2018 11:15 UTC