Leverage Data & Technology

All Americans deserve safe, reliable, and affordable drinking water. But making sure that everyone has access remains a challenge that requires untangling a complex web of interdependent factors. EPIC is planning to scale our Texas-based tool nation-wide in order to support communities, map the utility landscape across the U.S., and help states to prioritize investments and technical assistance to improve drinking water infrastructure.

Imagine turning on your tap and wondering if the water is safe to drink. You're not alone—studies show erosion of trust in drinking water is a global concern. A recent study found that more than half of adults worldwide expect to be seriously harmed by their drinking water within the next two years.

Earlier this year, Gabe Watson and EmmaLi Tsai participated in a workshop hosted by Defenders of Wildlife to help researchers create better maps at the intersection of environmental justice and conservation. Decisions from the workshop resulted in this user guide & website, which walks users through a more collaborate and inclusive approach to conservation that considers biodiversity, climate change, and environmental justice. To put the framework and shared principles into practice, the guide also features a case study using the National Wildlife Refuge System to show where future land acquisition should be prioritized.

As the initial service line material inventory deadline passes, we’re examining the updated 7th DWINSA survey results for clues of what we might expect from this forthcoming data.

In this blog, Phil Cork investigates national trends and what we learned from these updated survey results.