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Two Million Americans Don't Have Clean Water, Study Says

Navajo Water Project
Navajo are 67 times more likely than other Americans to live without running water or a toilet.

A report released this week by the group Dig Deep and the U.S. Water Alliance says two million Americans are without basic, reliable water systems in their homes.  Even more live without basic sanitation. 

The issue is especially acute for minority populations and the poor.

Here in Arizona, the Navajo Nation is particularly impacted by lack of access to water, some people travelling miles to get water just to maintain their households.

And along the U.S.-Mexico border, poor communities of color face challenges in accessing water even when it is readily available.    

KAWC's Lou Gum spoke this week to George McGraw (interview below) about the new report and about the organization he heads and founded, Dig Deep, a national non-profit that seeks to ensure that every American has access to clean water.

You can find the water report issued by dig deep and the U.S. Water alliance at digdeep.org

There is also information there about some of the specific project the organization funds and manages, including the Navajo Water Project.

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Lou grew up in Tucson and has a long family history in the state of Arizona. He began his public radio career in 1988 at KNAU in Flagstaff as a classical music DJ and has been hooked on public radio since, transitioning to news after trying his hand at several other careers in publishing and commercial broadcasting. Lou has a degree in American Studies from Arizona State University and was KAWC's Morning Edition host for two and half years before becoming News and Operations Director.
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