Water Inequality Used to Be a Developing World Problem Only. Not Any More.
14 October 2019
Insights + Opinion
Protestors marched outside the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Monday, August 26, during the MTV Video and Music Awards to bring attention to the water crisis currently gripping the city. Karla Ann Cote / NurPhoto / Getty Images
By Will Sarni
It is far too easy to view scarcity and poor quality of water as issues solely affecting emerging economies. While the images of women and children fetching water in Africa and a lack of access to water in India are deeply disturbing, this is not the complete picture.
<p>The city of Flint, Michigan, where dangerous levels of <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/04/us/flint-water-crisis-fast-facts/index.html" target="_blank">pollutants contaminated</a> the municipal water supply, is a case in point — as is, more recently, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/23/nyregion/newark-water-crisis.html" target="_blank">the city of Newark, New Jersey</a>.</p>
<p><em>Will Sarni is the founder and CEO of Water Foundry.</em><br/></p><p><em><em>Note: This post also appears on the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/10/water-inequality-developing-world-usa-west/" target="_blank">World Economic Forum</a>.</em></em></p><p><em><em>Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="https://www.circleofblue.org/2019/world/water-inequality-used-to-be-a-developing-world-problem-only-not-any-more/" target="_blank">Circle of Blue</a>.</em></em></p>
The Past Is No Longer a Guide to the Future
<p>We get ever closer to "day zeros" — the point at when municipal water supplies are switched off — and tragedies such as Flint. These are not isolated stories. Instead they are becoming routine, and the public sector and civil society are scrambling to address them. We are seeing "day zeros" in South Africa, India, Australia and elsewhere, and we are now detecting lead contamination in drinking water in cities across the U.S.<br></p><p>"Day zero" is the result of water planning by looking in the rear-view mirror. The past is no longer a guide to the future; water demand has outstripped supplies because we are tied to business-as-usual planning practices and water prices, and this goes hand-in-hand with the inability of the public sector to factor the impacts of climate change into long-term water planning. Lead in drinking water is the result of lead pipe service lines that have not been replaced and in many cases only recently identified by utilities, governments and customers. An estimated 22 million people in the U.S. are potentially using <a href="https://www.pnas.org/content/115/9/2078" target="_blank">lead water service lines</a>. This aging infrastructure won't repair or replace itself.</p><p>One of the most troubling aspects of the global water crisis is that those least able to afford access to water are also the ones who pay a disproportionately high percentage of their income for it. A report by <a href="https://www.wateraid.org/us/" target="_blank">WaterAid</a> revealed that a standard water bill in developed countries is as little as 0.1 percent of the income of someone earning the minimum wage, while in a country like Madagascar a person reliant on a tanker truck for their water supply would spend as much as 45 percent of their daily income on water to get just the recommended daily minimum supply. In Mozambique, families relying on black-market vendors will spend up to 100 times as much on water as those reached by government-subsidized water supplies.</p><p>Finally, we need to understand that the discussion of a projected gap between supply and demand is misleading. There is no gap, only poor choices around allocation. The wealthy will have access to water, and the poor will pay more for water of questionable quality. From Flint residents using bottled water and paying high water utility rates, to the poor in South Africa waiting in line for their allocation of water — inequity is everywhere.</p>Water Inequity Requires Global Action — Now.
<p>These troubling scenarios beg the obvious question: What to do? We do know that ongoing reports on the 'water crisis' are not going to catalyze action to address water scarcity, poor quality, access and affordability. Ensuring the human right to water feels distant at times.</p><p>We need to mobilize an ecosystem of stakeholders to be fully engaged in developing and scaling solutions. The public sector, private sector, NGOs, entrepreneurs, investors, academics and civil society must all be engaged in solving water scarcity and quality problems. Each stakeholder brings unique skills, scale and speed of impact (for example, entrepreneurs are fast but lack scale, while conversely the public sector is slow but has scale).</p><p>We also urgently need to change how we talk about water. We consistently talk about droughts happening across the globe — but what we are really dealing with is an overallocation of water due to business-as-usual practices and the impacts of climate change.</p><p>We need to democratize access to water data and actionable information. Imagine providing anyone with a smartphone the ability to know, on a real-time basis, the quality of their drinking water and actions to secure safe water. Putting this information in the hands of civil society instead or solely relying on centralized regulatory agencies and utilities will change public policies.</p>From Your Site Articles
- Newark Water Filters Are Working, Tests Suggest - EcoWatch ›
- Newark's Lead Crisis Escalates - EcoWatch ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Read More
Show Less
EcoWatch Daily Newsletter
New Jersey Gov. Murphy said 6,500 households in Newark have signed up for lead service line replacement, and so far more than 900 service lines have been replaced. Edwin J. Torres / Governor's Office
Newark water is safe to drink, if you use the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved filters issued by the city, according to new test data that city and state officials announced Monday.
<p><br/></p>
<p>New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced that more than 1,700 samples were taken from 300 homes. The tests showed that the filters were tested and 97 percent of the filters worked effectively once the tap was turned on. That number rose to 99 percent when the tap was allowed to run for five minutes before a sample was collected, as the <a href="https://www.apnews.com/24cc04e2caea44b8ac0d7e1eade51495" target="_blank">AP</a> reported.</p><p>"These results are a welcome jolt of positive news that allows us collectively to charge ahead in implementing our short-term, midterm and long-term solutions," Murphy said at a news conference on Monday, as <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/23/nyregion/newark-water-crisis.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a> reported.</p><p>Newark officials had handed out more than 38,000 <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/lead">lead</a> filters to address the issue, but two filters <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/newark-lead-crisis-2639800364.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">tested last month</a> showed levels of lead as high as 57.9 parts per billion — nearly four times the EPA action level of 15 parts per billion, as the <a href="https://nypost.com/2019/09/23/lead-filters-working-in-newark-tap-water-safe-to-drink-officials/" target="_blank">New York Post</a> reported. The failed test spurred the city and religious groups to distribute <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/bottled-water" rel="noopener noreferrer">bottled water</a> to nearly 14,000 homes.</p><p>The PUR filters issued by the city reduce traces of lead to less than 10 parts per billion, the test showed, according to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/23/us/newark-water-filters-test-safe/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>. However, scientists say there is no safe level of lead in water. High blood lead levels may impair a child's mental development and damage organs, while even small amounts can affect a child's intellectual development, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/23/nyregion/newark-water-crisis.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>.</p><p>"We thank God that the filters work, but we are not in any way having a victory lap," said Ras Baraka, Newark's mayor, as the <a href="https://nypost.com/2019/09/23/lead-filters-working-in-newark-tap-water-safe-to-drink-officials/" target="_blank">New York Post</a> reported. "It is good news in a long and arduous task to make sure we have clean drinking water."</p><p>Baraka is looking to lead by example, insisting that he drinks the water now, as <a href="https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2019/09/23/n-j-officials-to-announce-results-of-newark-lead-filter-testing/" target="_blank">WCBS</a> reported.</p><p>Since it is not a victory lap, the city will continue to distribute bottled water until a final report on the test samples is issued and all doubt about the efficacy of the filters is removed. Additionally, the city will launch a community assistance program to help ensure all affected residents are using the filters correctly, according to the <a href="https://www.apnews.com/24cc04e2caea44b8ac0d7e1eade51495" target="_blank">AP</a>.</p>
<p>New Jersey recognizes the scientific consensus that there is no safe level of lead in the water, so it is waiting for President <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/trump-watch/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trump</a> to sign a bill that allows $100 million from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to be used to replace lead pipes in New Jersey, as <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/23/us/newark-water-filters-test-safe/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a> reported.</p><p>Gov. Murphy said that 6,500 households in Newark have signed up for lead service line replacement, and so far more than 900 service lines have been replaced. The city is replacing the lines at no cost to homeowners thanks to funding recently secured by Essex County. The Essex County Improvement Authority announced in August that it will lend $120 million to Newark to replace lead pipes, which will allow the city to fix 18,000 lead service lines in two to three years, instead of the initial expectation of eight to 10 years, as <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/23/us/newark-water-filters-test-safe/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a> reported.</p><p>The National Resource Defense Council, which has sued Newark over lead levels and its mismanagement of its water problems, welcomed the results, but expressed caution.</p><p>"We say 'trust, but verify,'" Erik Olson, a senior director at the group, said, as <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/23/nyregion/newark-water-crisis.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a> reported. "The city, state and federal Environmental Protection Agency should provide all test results and the protocols used to test the filters to the public so Newark residents can feel confident that filters will protect their health. Anything less than full transparency will breed further distrust and skepticism."</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">8 Ways to Protect Yourself From Lead-Contaminated Water <a href="https://t.co/cZ9hUXBVwR">https://t.co/cZ9hUXBVwR</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Waterkeeper?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Waterkeeper</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/foodandwater?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@foodandwater</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/waterforpeople?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@waterforpeople</a></p>— EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) <a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/status/991496260619251713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Related Articles Around the Web
Read More
Show Less
For decades, Burt's Bees has been one of the leading names in cosmetic and skincare products developed with sustainability in mind. Not only do they create high-quality products from natural ingredients, but they're attentive to the ways in which their production, packaging, and distribution methods impact the world around them. For those who value environmental stewardship and wise corporate citizenship, Burt's Bees is iconic.
Perhaps it was only a matter of time before the company expanded its all-natural skincare and cosmetic line to include products that harness the potent, holistic effects of CBD. In this post, we'll offer a quick guide to the products included in the new Burt's Bees CBD line, as well as some further comments about the company as a whole.
<h2>Why CBD?</h2><p>First, it may be worth asking why all of this matters. What's the big deal about CBD, anyway?</p><p>CBD is short for cannabidiol, one of the most prevalent, active ingredients in the cannabis plant (marijuana). CBD has been linked with a <a data-linked-post="2648638251" href="https://www.ecowatch.com/organic-cbd-oil-2648638251.html" target="_blank">number of positive, holistic health effects</a>; in fact, it's been FDA-approved as a treatment for <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5767492/" target="_blank">epilepsy and seizures</a>, while much anecdotal evidence positions it as an <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2828614/" target="_blank">anti-inflammatory agent</a>.</p><p>Crucially, legally-available CBD products have little or no <em>THC</em>, which is the psychoactive ingredient in the marijuana plant; in other words, you can enjoy the therapeutic benefits of CBD without any risk of getting high.</p><h2>The Burt's Bees Story</h2><p>With that said, let's get back to Burt's Bees.</p><p>The company was founded in the early 1980s by Burt Shavitz and Roxanne Quimby, veterans of the art community who sought refuge and contemplation in the prairies of Maine. Eventually, their interests led them to beekeeping, and into developing lip and skincare products developed from homegrown beeswax.</p><p>From the very beginning, their mission was to develop products that drew from the power of nature, while also taking seriously their responsibility to preserve, protect, and respect nature.</p><p><br/></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-proxy-image">
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0e/Burt%27s_Bees_Products%2C_Sep_2012.JPG" target="_blank"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vbWVkaWEucmJsLm1zL2ltYWdlP3U9JTJGd2lraXBlZGlhJTJGY29tbW9ucyUyRjAlMkYwZSUyRkJ1cnQlMjUyN3NfQmVlc19Qcm9kdWN0cyUyQ19TZXBfMjAxMi5KUEcmaG89aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ1cGxvYWQud2lraW1lZGlhLm9yZyZzPTYzNCZoPWM1ZTJmZTNjZWU3YTQzYmQwN2JiMzA5NTQzODJmZDE5ZTI4NTVmODFjZWExY2IwZjEwNTMyM2VmZmI3NzVhMTQmc2l6ZT05ODB4JmM9MjMzMjg4MjMwMCIsImV4cGlyZXNfYXQiOjE2MzQ2MDIzNTB9.-xDHPO21EBocR2q-qehbyHJl9kdn7xtuoQ4yGq9AWig/img.jpg" id="5f2e7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="656954a7f6b3ca9326350734a85dea76" /></a>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">File:Burt's Bees Products, Sep 2012.JPG - Wikipedia</small>
</p><h3>Sustainability at Burt's Bees<br/></h3><p>There are a number of ways in which Burt's Bees continues to live out its commitment to sustainability to this day.</p><h3>All Ingredients Come from Nature</h3><p>The company strives for 100 percent natural ingredients in all of their products, and generally comes pretty close. (Their skincare products are all 95 percent natural, at a bare minimum.) Everything they make is absent <a data-linked-post="2628289611" href="https://www.ecowatch.com/chemicals-in-cosmetics-damage-childrens-health-2628289611.html" target="_blank">parabens</a> and other concerning, artificial chemicals.</p><h3>No Products are Tested on Animals</h3><p>Burt's Bees products are all "<a data-linked-post="1881939362" href="https://www.ecowatch.com/13-eco-labels-to-look-for-when-shopping-1881939362.html" target="_blank">Leaping Bunny Certified</a>." What this means is that they never test their products on animals, or ask any third parties to conduct animal testing on their behalf.</p><h3>Eco-Friendly Sourcing</h3><p>The company also demonstrates a responsible approach to sourcing, visiting all their ingredient harvesting sites to ensure a commitment to stewardship and sustainability.</p><h3>Environmentally Friendly Packaging</h3><p>All Burt's Bees products are completely recyclable. They avoid over-packaging, and their plastics are made up largely of recycled materials. </p><p>The bottom line: Burt's Bees is a company with serious eco-credentials… and that makes them a logical choice for expansion into the world of natural, sustainably sourced CBD.</p><h2>About Burt's Bees CBD Products</h2><p>Currently, Burt's Bees offers five products that are made with <a data-linked-post="2649092883" href="https://www.ecowatch.com/full-spectrum-cbd-oil-2649092883.html" target="_blank">full spectrum CBD</a>. What this means is that their CBD includes trace elements of all parts of the plant, including other <a data-linked-post="2649030477" href="https://www.ecowatch.com/cannabis-terpenes-2649030477.html" target="_blank">cannabinoids and terpenes</a>. According to many CBD experts, this provides a more potent and effective product overall. </p><p>All of the company's CBD ingredients are sourced from hemp that's grown and harvested in Colorado, using the most sustainable, organic agricultural practices. </p><p>Another important note about Burt's Bees CBD products: All of them are rigorously third-party tested. Independent lab results are key whenever you buy CBD, because it allows you to get a good sense of the purity, quality, and potency of what you're buying. You can get batch-specific test results for any Burt's Bees product simply by visiting their website.</p><h2>So, what about the specific products in the Burt's Bees CBD line?</h2>
<h2>Sustainably Sourced CBD Products</h2><p>It's important to emphasize that <em>all </em>of these products are made with transparently sourced CBD ingredients, as well as the company's usual high standards of eco-friendly packaging. In other words, this is a great opportunity to enjoy some of the benefits of CBD skincare, with all the sustainability and sound environmental stewardship that Burt's Bees is known for.</p><p>We're happy to recommend these products as good entry points into CBD skincare. Always remember, when shopping for CBD products, look for third party test results and transparency about sourcing information, all of which Burt's Bees makes readily available.</p><p><em><strong>Josh Hurst</strong> </em><em>is a journalist, critic, and essayist. He lives in Knoxville, TN, with his wife and three sons. His writing on natural health, nutrition, and supplements has appeared in Health, Shape, and Remedy Review.</em></p>
CBD Hand and Foot Cream
<a href="https://cbdburtsbees.pxf.io/vo9nv" ><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU0MzM0OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3NDQwMzIwMX0.yut4GH7F5tlKS3t1NdEhuUEaqvr2XMWFGV0mdb4Lzds/img.jpg?width=980" id="cfaa6" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2d6798afd5e1082f405a7c2d34d3ef6e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" /></a><p>Meanwhile, Burt's Bees also offers a cream that's perfectly soothing for your calloused feet or hard-working hands. It's made not only with 200mg of CBD, but also with a host of other natural ingredients designed to moisturize and replenish. You can get the CBD hand and foot cream for just $20. We especially recommend this product for anyone who has been thinking about trying CBD for psoriasis. </p>
$20
CBD Facial Oil
<a href="https://cbdburtsbees.pxf.io/NnvKV" ><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU0MzM0Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNjg3NjAxNn0.5A-FpEfSoN7ltOiR8GeHZH_pHF2X3QiWJOCCVqrwlO8/img.jpg?width=980" id="70913" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="471a3ec6fee14af68b0960b05c79d581" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" /></a><p>Looking for a natural, soothing way to revitalize your skin? Burt's Bees' facial oil combines the replenishing powers of CBD with other proven ingredients from the natural world, including jojoba, rosehip, and evening primrose oils. This face oil is made with 100mg of CBD.</p>
$35
CBD Lip Oil
<a href="https://cbdburtsbees.pxf.io/O6vRW" ><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU0MzM0OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNTkxNTExOH0.8Z07egVJkChyX3IOJL4Oljf28JZbt9E__uxizfFMHdQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="b5e05" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d5ab7e24b0357917309d942794235f7a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" /></a><p>Burt's Bees is famous for their lip balms, so it's no surprise that they offer a CBD-infused variant. Made with 10mg of CBD, this balm has a wonderfully cooling effect on the lips. The addition of shea butter helps increase its moisturizing effect. </p>
$10
CBD Lip Treatment
<a href="https://cbdburtsbees.pxf.io/n9Z1A" ><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU0MzM1MC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNjI3NzYyNn0.v5b0PL5yDE_TmcZgkCe4O5Bia3hm3e7kysu6tIxQqGI/img.jpg?width=980" id="f8767" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2cb9ac0fb9572ce3d54dffeda4f31a64" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" /></a><p>An additional option for those seeking CBD-powered lip care. This one is meant to be used while you sleep, allowing it plenty of time to revitalize and restore badly chapped lips. Made with 15mg CBD, you can get the Burt's Bees lip treatment online now.</p>
$14
CBD Body Cream
<a href="https://cbdburtsbees.pxf.io/KoveN" ><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU0MzM1MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNTI2NTQyOX0.Q7UG8UhBwqPk45uu4iZP5HzSDVVDuMm0g2DY9UBRSKE/img.jpg?width=980" id="e2a7c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b9b0b1c5600a13e48cca46646edd195e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" /></a><p>Last but not least, check out the <a href="https://cbd.burtsbees.com/products/cbd-body-cream" target="_blank">Burt's Bees CBD Body Cream</a>, made with 250mg CBD plus rich, botanical scents. It's designed to leave your skin soft and fully moisturized for a full 24 hours, and you can get it for just $30.</p>
$30
From Your Site Articles
Related Articles Around the Web
Read More
Show Less