Why 40% of Philadelphians don’t drink the city’s tap wooder
The city mounted a new campaign to convince Philly residents the water is safe and delicious. But why don't they trust it in the first place?
Listen 12:58
Forty percent of Philadelphians — many of them with lower incomes — drink bottled water at home, so a coalition is promoting tap water to residents. (Phil Gregory/WHYY)
About 40% of Philadelphians drink bottled water at home because they don’t trust the H20 that flows from their faucets, according to a study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania. Most are people of color and low-income residents. Now the city has mounted a campaign — including a new “water bar” — to convince residents to ditch plastic bottles and drink from the tap. But why don’t Philadelphians trust the city’s water in the first place? WHYY reporters Dana Bate and Catalina Jaramillo explain on this episode of The Why.
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.
Brought to you by The Why
The Why
There’s more to every story if you take the time to tell it.
Part of the series
Watershed
Preserving Our Water: How we use our Delaware Watershed.
The project is funded by The William Penn Foundation.
Lead contamination ‘pervasive’ in drinking water in Atlantic County schools
A joint study from two organizations say 92% of the drinking water at Atlantic County schools is contaminated with lead.
3 years ago
Pa. coronavirus recovery: Philly to allow 50% indoor dining capacity starting Friday
As rapid testing becomes more popular, the city is creating a new category for “probable” case counting.
4 years ago
Replacement of unsafe lead service lines delayed by pandemic’s economic fallout
Murphy administration eliminates plan to spend $80 million to start replacing the lines
4 years ago