ONLINE: Threats on Tap: Marginalized Communities at Risk

media release: The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host the second of three educational webinars on Sept. 15, 2021: Threats on Tap - Marginalized Communities at Risk. On YouTube.

The webinar series is part of the Safe Water For All Campaign announced in July that is dedicated to educating the public on the leading drinking water contaminants, including PFAS, nitrates, lead and their impact on your health.  

Gov. Tony Evers declared 2019 the Year of Clean Drinking Water to address the fact that not all Wisconsinites have access to safe, clean drinking water. Gov. Evers directed the DNR and DHS, the agencies entrusted with protecting Wisconsin’s health and water resources, to strengthen water quality standards for nitrate, PFAS and lead. 

While the Safe Drinking Water Act guarantees all Wisconsinites access to clean, drinkable water, not everyone can safely turn on the tap. The United States has remarkable water systems, developed over two centuries of technological, institutional and economic advances. However, the benefits of those systems have not been equally felt across the state. Water systems that serve marginalized areas – communities of color, low-income communities and rural communities – are more likely to be unsafe. Hear about the efforts to understand and to secure safe and affordable drinking water for every community.

Speakers:

• Brenda Coley, Co-Executive Director, Milwaukee Water Commons
• Margaret Ann Noodin, Director, Electa Quinney Institute for American Indian Education, UW-Milwaukee
• Maria Redmond, Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy Director, Wisconsin Dept. of Administration
• Regina Strong, Environmental Justice Public Advocate, Michigan Office of Environmental Justice, Michigan's Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy