I recently had the privilege of mentoring a talented group of students—Kevin, Nathan, George, and Avery—on a rigorous research project that explored a vital environmental justice issue. Their final report, titled Correlation Project, investigated whether a community’s economic status correlates with the quality of its tap water.
The team conducted a comparative analysis of two specific districts: District A (zip code 95116), a lower-income area, and District B (zip code 95051), a more affluent community. To ensure scientific accuracy, they measured four key water quality metrics: absorbance (clarity), pH stability, nitrate levels, and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) .
The Findings
The results were statistically significant. The students found that District B, the wealthier area, consistently enjoyed better water quality across every metric.
- Clarity & Purity: The wealthier district had lower absorbance and TDS readings, indicating clearer water with fewer dissolved contaminants.
- Safety: While District B had low nitrate levels, the lower-income District A showed significantly elevated nitrate concentrations, approaching recommended safe limits.
- Stability: The water in the affluent district maintained a stable, neutral pH, whereas the lower-income district showed more variability and imbalance .
Why It Matters The students correctly noted that while income doesn’t cause cleaner water, it correlates with better-funded infrastructure and resources. Their analysis concluded that economic disparities often coincide with environmental health disparities, highlighting a need for targeted infrastructure investment in lower-income areas.
I am incredibly proud of Kevin, Nathan, George, and Avery for their dedication to data-driven research and their commitment to shedding light on these critical inequities.
If you want more info on this project, Contact Me.