"In California's Poorest Towns, Tap Water's Legacy Is Toxic for Latinos"

"Correct or not, perceptions of tap water as unsafe lead many poor immigrant families to make expensive and unhealthy choices."

"Latino Americans suffer from disproportionately high rates of obesity—especially children, who are 51 percent more likely to be obese than their white counterparts. Unhealthy advertising from food companies, a lack of access to safe and adequate recreational areas, and poor snack and beverage options at schools have all been cited as major contributors to this early-life epidemic.

But there may be another, overlooked factor in the mix: A recent policy brief from U.C. Davis' Center for Poverty Research shows how negative beliefs about the safety and quality of tap water, especially among Latinos, is linked to higher consumption of sugary beverages—key culprits in obesity.

The brief comes from a study, led by Dr. Lucia Kaiser, of water contaminants and consumption habits in two low-income rural towns in California's Central Valley. These are towns largely inhabited by immigrant agricultural workers. Parts of the valley have the highest rates of drinking water contamination, and the most public water systems with contaminant violations in the state. Despite its agricultural wealth, the valley also comprises some of the most impoverished regions in the nation."

Laura Bliss reports for CityLab January 14, 2015.