Hampshire Faces Water Outage for 60,000 Homes

The EPA is urging Congress to fund a permanent federal water assistance program, citing research that reveals between 12.1 million and 19.2 million U.S. households lack affordable water access. This initiative is part of the Biden Administration's broader efforts to improve clean water regulation, particularly in low-income and minority communities, supported by $50 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Meanwhile, nearly 60,000 homes in Hampshire are currently experiencing significant water supply disruptions due to a technical issue at Southern Water's Testwood supply works, affecting schools and resulting in queues at bottled water stations. Southern Water has stated they have fixed the issue but full restoration may not occur until the weekend, coinciding with a projected average water bill increase of £86 next year. The situation is causing frustration among residents, particularly those on priority service lists who are still without adequate water supply. The dual issues highlight ongoing challenges in water accessibility and infrastructure in the U.S. and the UK, respectively.