In 2019, Stephen Gasteyer, a Michigan State University (MSU) associate professor in the Department of Sociology, led research on a report that was published detailing extensive findings into the accessibility of clean, sanitized water in the U.S.
Of the discoveries Gasteyer and his team found, one exposed the stark reality behind what part of the U.S. population experiences daily: More than 2 million people living in the U.S. lack sufficient access to running water, indoor plumbing or wastewater services.
The report, a collaboration between the U.S. Water Alliance, MSU and DigDeep—a nonprofit focused on bringing clean water and sanitation services to U.S. communities—gave further insight into the gap in U.S. water access, such as federal data falling short in accurately documenting water access across the country, race being the strongest predictor of water and sanitation access, and poverty remaining a critical barrier in securing water services.
Research also showed that inadequate water access affects entire communities, not just isolated individuals living in remote parts of the country.
“By doing community interviews, we learned these aren’t just people who’ve chosen to live off the grid,” Gasteyer said. “It’s a population that’s been systematically left out. They keep trying to get adequate water and sanitation services, but bump into issues around it.”
To continue exploring the barriers blocking communities from gaining reliable access to water, as well as shape potential resources to assist in securing access in the future, Gasteyer applied for and received a $500,000 grant in 2022 from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
The research project, which is funded through 2025, examines the relationship between water infrastructure and economic development in rural U.S. communities.
Gasteyer, who holds a joint appointment with MSU AgBioResearch, said the objectives of this research are to analyze through data and case studies how investing in water infrastructure has historically influenced economic development in rural U.S. communities, as well as use the information gathered to provide recommendations for how to improve infrastructure while simultaneously promoting economic growth. — MSU Extension
