Publication Date

8-1-2025

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Plos Water

Volume

4

Issue

8

DOI

10.1371/journal.pwat.0000413

Abstract

The U.S. has moved beyond peak water security. Infrastructural degradation, institutional inertia, and climate change are reducing the ability of households and communities to benefit from near-universal safe, adequate, affordable, sustainable water services. Yet, current supply-side research tools, that focus largely on system performance, are not equipped to measure the prevalence and lived experiences of household water insecurity, thus limiting the evidence available to policymakers, utilities, and communities to make decisions about water services. We discuss how demand-side metrics, such as household-level water insecurity scales validated for high-income contexts, such as the U.S., can help stakeholders to better identify local variation in user water issues, guide resource allocation, and improve hazard and disaster response. Targeted infrastructure investments informed by these metrics can enhance water security, reduce reliance on emergency social services, and promote public health and economic vitality. To address 21st-century water challenges effectively, we must integrate experiential measures into local, regional, and national water assessments.

Funding Number

CNH2-S1924322

Funding Sponsor

Office of the Vice Provost for Research, Boston College

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Department

Anthropology

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