A deep dive by Michael Phillis and Tammy Webber revealed how cuts under the Trump administration to wastewater infrastructure programs disproportionately harmed poor and minority communities already overwhelmed by failing sewer systems.
The story spotlighted the town of Cahokia Heights, Illinois, where residents suffer recurring sewage backups and flooding due to crumbling infrastructure. One woman shared the heartbreak of discovering her long-dreamed-of home was uninhabitable every time heavy rains hit — her basement filling with sewage and her hope eroding with each storm.
Phillis and Webber traced how key federal grant programs were scaled back just as communities like Cahokia Heights desperately needed help. Their on-the-ground reporting gave voice to residents whose concerns have gone unheard for years.
Data reporter M.K. Wildeman supported the reporting with analysis that revealed a national pattern: lower-income communities bear the brunt of aging, inadequate wastewater systems. Wildeman also developed a graphic that visualized how funding shortfalls were exacerbating inequality across the U.S.
The result was a poignant, evidence-based report showing the intersection of environmental justice, infrastructure decay and federal policy decisions — offering a compelling call for accountability.
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