One neighborhood at the edge of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was left off the grid for decades as municipal water systems expanded around them. The Robert Eubanks community, a historically African American neighborhood, had to rely on private wells, which were often contaminated. They watched – and waited – as the white neighborhoods around them hooked up to city water systems, which residents felt provided cleaner, safer water.

Residents and scholars said race may have played a role in the community’s lack of access to the city water. Reporter Bryn Caswell takes us to the community.

To see the full News21 report on “Troubled Water,” go to troubledwater.news21.com on Aug. 14.

 

Robert Campbell stands at the edge of the forest in his North Carolina community. (Photo by Fionnuala O’Leary/News21)

The post Episode 6: African American neighborhood in North Carolina left behind appeared first on Troubled Water.

Daily military operations have contaminated the water on and around bases across the United States for decades, affecting service members and their families, as well as the surrounding communities.

Veterans and families suffering from years of health problems are speaking out.

Lita Hyland is a military wife who lived on three contaminated bases with her husband and family. She met reporter Adrienne St. Clair at “Operation Stand Together” in Washington, D.C., an event addressing toxic contamination on military bases. She’s fought for this cause for nearly 20 years.

To see the full News21 report on “Troubled Water,” go to troubledwater.news21.com on Aug. 14.

Lita Hyland attended an event called “Operation Stand Together,” in Washington, D.C., where she joined with veterans and families affected by water contamination on military bases across the country. (Photo by Adrienne St. Clair/News21)

Veterans and families from every military branch gathered at the base of the Washington Monument in D.C., to rally against decades of toxic contamination on hundreds of U.S. military bases. (Photo by Adrienne St. Clair/News21)

The post Episode 5: Water contamination on U.S. military bases appeared first on Troubled Water.

To see the full News21 report on “Troubled Water,” go to troubledwater.news21.com on Aug. 14.

Robert Miranda is a representative for Freshwater Action for Life Coalition. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/News21)

Vonnie Williams became aware of the symptoms of lead poisoning after taking custody of her nephew, who had been poisoned. Once her oldest daughter began to display behavioral issues, she became concerned. She later learned her daughter’s school tested positive for lead. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/News21)

The post Episode 4: Lead problems in Milwaukee appeared first on Troubled Water.

Darlene Arviso, a member of the Navajo Nation, drives a diesel truck with a big tank to dozens of rural homes near Thoreau, New Mexico, every day. Navajo families depend on her for clean drinking water because much of the groundwater in their wells is contaminated with uranium from Cold War-era mines. Reporter Lauren Kaljur takes us there.

To see the full News21 report on “Troubled Water,” go to troubledwater.news21.com on Aug. 14.

Water is scarce in the Navajo Nation, but contamination from decades of poorly managed uranium extraction in the territory has made matters more difficult. (Photo by Lauren Kaljur/News21)

Cisterns near Thoreau, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation pump fresh water up from underground storage tanks installed by the St. Bonaventure Mission and a nonprofit called Digdeep. (Photo by Lauren Kaljur/News21)

Darlene Arviso, a member of the Navajo Nation, fills up a cistern with fresh water for residents near Thoreau, New Mexico. The groundwater in their wells is contaminated with uranium from Cold War-era mines on Navajo territory. (Photo by Lauren Kaljur/News21)

The St. Bonaventure Mission helps provide clean water to rural Navajo community members because the tribe cannot afford to get everyone on its centralized water system. (Photo by Lauren Kaljur/News21)

Many Navajo families do not have running water because infrastructure is expensive in remote rural areas. Since water is contaminated with uranium, it has to be moved long distances. (Photo by Lauren Kaljur/News21)

Darlene Arviso has her commercial driver’s license. To run the water truck, she has to climb up the ladder and connect the hose to the outdoor water storage tank at the St. Bonaventure Mission, which helps fund the project. (Photo by Lauren Kaljur/News21)

The post Episode 3: Water truck serves Navajo Nation residents appeared first on Troubled Water.

Water treatment experts say chlorine is used to treat contaminated water because it’s the most inexpensive method – not because it’s the most effective.

But some residents in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, say their health is paying a high price.

From raw red rashes to scalp psoriasis, one local resident said it’s as if he’s “rotting away.”

While officials use chlorine to keep parasites and brain-eating amoeba out of their water, it’s proven to be somewhat of a double-edged sword.

This episode of Unfiltered features two women who believe their skin problems are linked to chlorinated water.

For more stories like this, check out our major multimedia project Troubled Water, which goes live on Aug. 14.

Jennifer Kieff said she feels that her skin condition makes her look “like an alligator.” She continues to seek advice from dermatologists. (Photo by Jasmine Spearing-Bowen/News21)

The post Episode 2: Chlorine causing health concerns appeared first on Troubled Water.

Water is the foundation for human life, but is it safe?

This summer, fellows from across the country and beyond are working together to determine whether water throughout the United States is safe to drink. And, if not, who’s responsible?

We meet some of the leaders, as well as the team’s data specialist, behind News21’s latest investigation.

Leonard Downie Jr. and Jacqueline Petchel will guide the 29 journalists as they hold decision makers accountable and give voice to unheard communities.

This is the first episode in the podcast series, which is part of a major multimedia project to be published in August.

We will bring you fair and accurate information straight from the source … unfiltered.

The post Episode 1: Introducing . . . appeared first on Troubled Water.