Unequal Access to Water by USGS Vizlab

Water is essential for life, yet many communities in the Western United States face challenges in accessing sufficient, clean water. Water insecurity arises when people do not have reliable access to enough safe water to meet their daily needs. A combination of societal and environmental factors contribute to water insecurity, including demographic characteristics, health conditions, socioeconomic status, land tenure, and exposure to hazards like drought and pollution (Drakes et al, 2024 https://doi.org/10.1029/2023WR036284).

Research shows that communities with lower incomes, limited infrastructure, and greater exposure to environmental stressors are disproportionately affected by water insecurity in the Western United States. Additionally, factors such as reliance on declining groundwater supplies, increasing population demands, and climate-driven changes further intensify these vulnerabilities (Anderson and Woosley, 2005 https://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2005/circ1261/). Understanding how these risks intersect is critical for advancing equitable solutions.

This website features interactive visualizations that explore vulnerability indicators related to water insecurity in the Western United States. For example, the collapsible dendrogram provides a hierarchical view of the various vulnerability indicators, with line thickness representing more well-studies topics. By examining factors such as income levels, household conditions, and environmental stressors, viewers can better understand which communities are most at risk. These insights help inform policy decisions, water management strategies, and community-led solutions to ensure more equitable water access.

Data are available from https://doi.org/10.5066/P93IDTUZ and the code behind the visualizations is available from https://github.com/DOI-USGS/vulnerability-indicators.