New research from King’s College London and the University of Arizona shows more Americans living in cities are going without running water, due to high housing costs and increasing cost-of-living.

For example, in Phoenix that number grew from 5,800 homes in the year 2000 to 6,300 homes in 2021.

The water sector is working with the federal government to pass legislation that would create a national assistance program, similar to programs already established for the energy (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) and food (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) sectors.

Five leading water associations – the American Water Works Association, Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, National Association of Clean Water Agencies, National Association of Water Companies, and Water Environment Federation shared formal policy recommendations to the federal government to create a permanent low-income water assistance program.

The same organizations sent a letter urging U.S. President-elect Trump’s administration to consider the program.