It’s easy to take clean water for granted in America. But there are millions of people in this country who can’t count on water to flow when they turn the tap or flush the toilet. Your city is likely decades behind on maintenance and upgrades to its water infrastructure and sewer systems. Add to that the extended drought gripping Western states, and it’s increasingly clear that none of us can – or should – take water for granted. In this episode of the podcast, we’ll hear from Jackson, Mississippi, California’s Central Valley farming community and the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana for insight on how we might recalibrate our relationship with water and think differently about this essential resource.

Guests:

Lauren Lewis, resident of Jackson, MS, Health Justice and Safety Organizer, Immigrant Alliance for Justice and Equity

Dan Van Abs, Professor of Practice for Water, Society and the Environment, Rutgers University

Don Cameron, General Manager of Terranova Ranch in Helm, CA

Rosalyn LaPier, Professor of History at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe of Montana and Métis

Colin Kuehl, Professor of Political Science and Environmental Studies, Northern Illinois University