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| A Pickett. Foto (detalhe): Ross Mantle / The Guardian |
Guardian US
environmental justice reporter Nina Lakhani tels Anushka Asthana about her water crisis investigation, which looked into why running
water is becoming unaffordable for millions of Americans across the US. Water
bills weigh heavily on many Americans as utilities hike prices to pay for
environmental clean-ups, infrastructure upgrades and climate emergency defences
to deal with floods and droughts. Federal funding for America’s ageing water
system has plummeted, and as a result a growing number of households are unable
to afford to pay their bills.
Albert Pickett inherited water debts from his mother
after she died. Pickett applied to get on to a repayment plan, but the water
department refused as he didn’t have the money, several hundred dollars,
required as a deposit. Cleveland Water didn’t inform Pickett, who survives on
disability benefits, about his right to appeal – instead, they turned off the
taps in 2013. “Without water you can’t do anything. I lost my family, my
wellbeing, my self-esteem. It was humiliating, like I was less than human,” he
says.
Acesse o podcast pelo link
Acesse o podcast pelo link
2020-07-02
