In a recent article written by Christopher Ingraham for the Washington Post, "According to the latest American Community Survey, nearly 630,000 occupied households lack complete plumbing facilities, which means that they are without one or more of the following: a toilet, a tub or shower, or running water. The Census Bureau says that the average household contains 2.6 individuals, which means that today, in 2014, in the wealthiest nation on Earth, upwards of 1.6 million people are living without full indoor plumbing." (To view the full article click here.)
So why is this important? Complete plumbing facilities are defined as hot and cold running water, a flush toilet, and a bathtub or shower. Data collected by the this survey are used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to identify areas eligible for public assistance programs and rehabilitation loans allowing the government to allocate Section 8 and other federal housing subsidies to local governments. These programs help to provide families with safe, decent, affordable, sanitary housing. Public health officials also use this information to locate areas in danger of ground water contamination and waterborne diseases.
So, the next time you use your indoor lavatory think of the 1.6 million Americans that don't have that luxury! And they don't all live in Alaska!
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