Season 5 Episode 4: Water Crisis in Southern West Virginia

Accidental Tomatoes

In one of the historically poorest communities in America, thousands of people are going without clean tap water in their homes. And while cities like Flint, MI, and Jackson, MS, deservedly grab national headlines for their water issues, the Southern West Virginia Coalfields are now decades into a water crisis with few answers on the horizon. In this episode, Brad Davis and Caitlin Ware join Heather and Joe to talk about the West Virginia water crisis, the complex issues surrounding it, and the ways coalfield communities are banding together to create contextual solutions where government and industry have failed. They also talk about the role of faith communities in helping to organize local residents and support local problem-solving efforts. If you’d like to get involved, below are links to some of the coalitions and organizations mentioned in the podcast:

From Below Coalition: https://www.facebook.com/groups/629075958675198

WVUMC Clean Water Initiative: https://www.wvumc.org/clean-water-in-southern-district/

WV Faith Collective: https://wvfaith.org/

WV Water Distribution: https://gofund.me/f55125a7