“My community never drinks water from the tap:” A study of public trust and household water insecurity

Abstract While U.S. urban water systems are classified as "safely managed," psychological and social barriers create significant disparities in actual use of tap water. This study investigates household water insecurity (HWI) in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Area, shifting focus from physical infrastructure to the psycho-social and cultural dimensions of water acceptance. In this study, researchers at the University of Minnesota surveyed over 1000 residents in their communities, prioritizing representation from BIPOC, low-income, and renter communities using culturally inclusive methods. The study found that Whiteness and wealth were the strongest predictors of trust in tap water, and that White participants were more likely to drink tap water and trust its safety than other groups. In contrast, Black, American Indian, and lower-income residents reported higher levels of worry and lower trust in government water information. Findings from this study show that physical access to water is not adequate as a metric for water security. To achieve equity, water institutions must address the distrust of public systems through representative leadership and culturally relevant engagement.