June 23, 2020 — Guardian US and Consumer Reports today announced a partnership to explore the challenges that many in the US face getting access to safe, clean, affordable water, and the injustices to those most at risk.

America’s Water Crisis launched with a Guardian exclusive revealing that millions of Americans can’t afford to pay their water bills, with bills in some cities rising 80% between 2010 and 2018, and will follow with a Consumer Reports investigation on the presence of potentially dangerous levels of arsenic in bottled water.

The launch content also includes an op-ed by Senator Bernie Sanders and US Representative Brenda Lawrence in the Guardian US on why the Water Act must pass ‒ a bill that Consumer Reports supports through its advocacy efforts. This project will build on the work Consumer Reports has done for decades through evidence-based reporting to identify the lack of standards oversight in place for both bottled and tap water.

Over the next several months, the Guardian and Consumer Reports will investigate the links between America’s water crisis and inequality, poverty and pollution. As part of the work, Consumer Reports and the Guardian are partnering to analyze water systems across the country, and are asking volunteers to help gather tap water samples that will then be tested for harmful substances. 

John Mulholland, editor of Guardian US said:
“The Guardian is committed to exposing the drivers of America’s growing inequality and access to safe, affordable water is central to this conversation. This series will reveal why so many millions of Americans, particularly more vulnerable ones, are denied this fundamental right, and will examine where there are opportunities to resolve this crisis. Everyone should have access to safe, clean and affordable water, not least in an advanced economy like that of the United States. ”

Marta L. Tellado, President and CEO of Consumer Reports, said:
“Every American deserves to know they are drinking water that is not a safety risk for themselves and their families. What guides CR is a commitment to creating a fair and just consumer-driven marketplace. We are glad to partner with Guardian US to bring thorough investigations into the consequences of tainted water’s potential harms and to engage individuals around the country to raise their voice and to take action on the safety of their community’s water.”

America’s Water Crisis, funded in part by a philanthropic gift from The 11th Hour Project, will include ongoing coverage on the prevalence of unsafe and unaffordable water, exploring the role of aging infrastructure, commercial forces and the climate emergency. It will also monitor the progress of relevant congressional bills on water safety, water infrastructure and affordability.

Consumer Reports bottled water testing was made possible by the Forsythia Foundation, a foundation focused on promoting public health and reducing chemical exposure.

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About Guardian News & Media

Guardian US is renowned for its Pulitzer prize-winning investigation into widespread secret surveillance by the National Security Agency, and for other award-winning work including the Paradise Papers. Guardian US has bureaus in New York, Washington DC, Oakland and New Orleans, covering the climate crisis, politics, race and immigration, gender, national security and more.

Guardian News & Media (GNM), publisher of theguardian.com, is one of the largest English-speaking newspaper websites in the world. Since launching its US and Australia digital editions in 2011 and 2013 respectively, traffic from outside of the UK now represents over two-thirds of The Guardian’s total digital audience.

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