Wilmington plumber helps Leland resident battling water contamination issues – WECT

Report on Localized Action Addressing Water Quality and Sustainable Development Goals in Brunswick County

Executive Summary

• This report details a case study from Leland, North Carolina, where residents face significant challenges related to water quality, directly impacting their health and well-being.
• The situation is analyzed through the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning water, health, and inequality.
• It highlights a responsive, community-focused action by a private sector entity that provided immediate relief, demonstrating a partnership for the goals (SDG 17).
• The report concludes by noting the persistent, systemic issues that require broader institutional action to ensure equitable access to safe water for the entire community.

Challenges to SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The circumstances in Brunswick County highlight critical deficiencies in achieving SDG 6, which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

1. Lack of Access to Safe Water: Vietnam veteran Albert Harrison and his family relied on private well water that was reportedly contaminated, exhibiting a foul odor and taste, and staining clothing. This represents a failure to meet Target 6.1, which calls for universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water.
2. Water Contamination and Safety: Widespread concerns over Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and other contaminants undermine water safety. The community’s advocacy reflects a fundamental need for water that is free from hazardous materials.
3. Inadequate Infrastructure: The reliance on private wells and the subsequent need for point-of-use filtration systems for basic safety indicate gaps in public water infrastructure, a key component of SDG 6.

Intersection with Health and Equality: SDG 3 and SDG 10

• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): A direct link between poor water quality and adverse health outcomes was suggested by the Harrison family, who believe years of consuming the water may have contributed to Mrs. Ella Harrison’s severe kidney problems. Ensuring access to clean water is a prerequisite for promoting healthy lives and well-being for all ages.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): The article notes that residents from predominantly Black communities have voiced that their water is subpar and have suggested that race may be a factor in the perceived lack of a strong institutional response. This aligns with the objective of SDG 10 to reduce inequality within and among countries by ensuring equal opportunity and access to basic services.

Multi-Stakeholder Engagement: A Case Study in SDG 17 and SDG 11

• Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17): Responding to a news story, a local business, DiMone-Parlier Plumbing and Irrigation, demonstrated corporate social responsibility by providing and installing a reverse osmosis system for the Harrison family free of charge. This action serves as a model for private sector contributions toward achieving the SDGs.
• Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11): The installation of the filtration system provided a crucial, life-changing improvement for one family, making their home environment safer and more sustainable. While this individual act is positive, the broader community’s ongoing struggle highlights the need for systemic solutions to ensure entire communities are inclusive, safe, and resilient, as envisioned in SDG 11.

Conclusion: Persistent Challenges and the Need for Institutional Action

The philanthropic intervention provided immediate and tangible relief for the Harrison family, directly advancing progress on SDG 3 and SDG 6 at a micro-level. However, this case underscores a larger, systemic issue. The reliance on private charity to solve a basic necessity highlights a significant gap in public service delivery. To fully realize the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly for marginalized communities, sustained and equitable action from public institutions is required. Fulfilling the promise of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) is essential to build the effective and accountable systems needed to guarantee clean water and sanitation for all residents of Brunswick County.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • The core issue of the article is the lack of access to safe drinking water for residents in Leland, N.C. The water from a private well is described as smelling and tasting “rotten,” containing PFAS and other contaminants, making it unsafe for consumption.

2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • The article directly links poor water quality to negative health outcomes. It states that Albert Harrison and his wife believe her “poor kidney health, which led to removal surgery in May, could be linked to drinking the water for years.” This highlights the health risks associated with contaminated water.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • The article suggests a dimension of inequality, noting that people from “predominantly Black communities” are affected. It explicitly mentions that “Some, like Harrison, have suggested race has played a factor in the lack of a strong response,” pointing to potential inequalities in how public services and environmental safety are managed across different communities.

4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The problem described affects the habitability and safety of a community. The struggle for basic services like safe tap water is a fundamental aspect of creating sustainable and inclusive communities where all residents can live safely.

5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • The article provides an example of a private-civil society partnership. A local business, DiMone-Parlier Plumbing and Irrigation, responded to a news story by providing and installing a reverse osmosis system for the Harrison family free of charge, demonstrating how the private sector can contribute to community well-being.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.

   • The Harrison family’s situation exemplifies a lack of access to safe drinking water. They were using contaminated private well water and had to purchase “packs of bottled water to avoid drinking it,” which is neither an affordable nor a sustainable solution.

2. Target 3.9: Substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and water pollution and contamination.

   • The article discusses health concerns directly related to water contamination. The presence of PFAS and the suspected link between the contaminated water and Ella Harrison’s kidney disease and surgery align with the goal of reducing illnesses from hazardous chemicals in water.

3. Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of race or ethnicity.

   • The article highlights that residents from “predominantly Black communities” are raising concerns and that “race has played a factor in the lack of a strong response.” This points to a struggle for inclusion and equitable treatment in the provision of essential services like safe water.

4. Target 6.b: Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management.

   • The article mentions that “county residents have taken their concerns to county commissioners directly, pushing for more change.” This is a clear example of local community participation in advocating for better water management and holding officials accountable.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for Target 6.1 (Implied): Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services.

   • The article implies this proportion is low in the affected neighborhood. The Harrisons used contaminated well water, a non-safely managed source. The installation of a reverse osmosis system improved this for one household, demonstrating a measurable change from an unsafe to a safe water source at the household level. Progress would be measured by the number of households gaining access to safe water.

2. Indicator for Target 3.9 (Implied): Morbidity rate attributed to unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene.

   • The article implies this through the specific case of Ella Harrison’s “poor kidney health, which led to removal surgery.” While anecdotal, it serves as a qualitative indicator of illness potentially linked to water contamination. A formal indicator would involve tracking rates of specific illnesses (like kidney disease) in the community and testing for contaminants like PFAS in the water supply.

3. Indicator for Target 10.2 (Implied): Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against.

   • The article provides direct evidence for this indicator when it states, “Some, like Harrison, have suggested race has played a factor in the lack of a strong response.” This is a reported perception of discrimination by an affected resident, which can be qualitatively and quantitatively measured in a community.

4. Indicator for Target 17.17 (Implied): Value of financial and in-kind contributions from the private sector.

   • The article provides a specific example of an in-kind contribution. The plumbing company provided a reverse osmosis system and installation free of charge. The article notes, “The systems can cost upwards of hundreds of dollars,” which quantifies the value of this private sector contribution to a community goal.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wect.com