Part Two of ‘Our America: Trouble on Tap’ To Air Beginning Sept. 30

‘America’s Lead Problem’ Examines the Lasting Impact of the Use of Lead Pipes and the Water Infrastructure in the United States

A trailer for the episode can be viewed here.

The thought-provoking three-part documentary series, “Our America: Trouble on Tap” from ABC Owned Television Stations, ABC News and National Geographic debuts part two, “America’s Lead Problem,” beginning tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 30. The episode examines the lasting impact of the use of lead pipes and the water infrastructure in America. Nearly 40 years after being banned as a plumbing material by the federal government, lead-based pipes are still carrying water to millions of homes across America, including Chicago, which has one of the highest concentrations of lead pipes in the country. But cities like Newark, New Jersey, which experienced high levels of lead in the water, replaced its lead service lines and is often used as a model of success in combating this public health issue. The special airs on ABC Owned Television Stations’ streaming and digital platforms and on linear on the following dates:

Saturday, Sept. 30
8:30 p.m. PDT             ABC7/KGO-TV San Francisco
10:00 p.m. PDT           ABC7/KABC-TV Los Angeles
10:00 p.m. PDT           ABC30/KFSN-TV Fresno
11:00 p.m. PDT           ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago

Sunday, Oct.1
12:01 a.m. CST ABC13/KTRK-TV Houston

Monday, Oct. 2
8:00 p.m. EDT ABC Localish

Sunday, Oct. 8
2:00 p.m. EDT ABC11/WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham

Monday, Oct. 9
8:00 p.m. EDT ABC Localish

Sunday, Oct. 22
12:30 a.m. EDT 6abc/WPVI-TV Philadelphia

Sunday, Nov. 5
2:00 p.m. EDT ABC7/WABC-TV New York

“Our America: Trouble on Tap” utilizes data from ABC Owned Television Stations Data Journalism Unit to examine how the effects of environmental pollution, climate change and aging infrastructure are gradually eroding the ability of more and more communities across the United States to have access to free and potable drinking water.

The first episode, “Life with Forever Chemicals,” takes a look at per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances contamination in North Carolina. This episode takes viewers to Cape Fear, North Carolina, often referred to as ground zero for PFAS water contamination or water polluted by toxic “forever chemicals.” For decades, the drinking water supply for more than 250,000 people was contaminated as a result of a chemical company dumping toxic PFAS into the Cape Fear River. Years after the contamination was first publicly revealed, the region continues to grapple with ongoing health concerns, multiple lawsuits and constructing costly water treatment plants as it struggles to cope with decades of chronic exposure. It is available to watch here.

The third episode, “Drilling into California’s Water Crisis,” will focus on the effects of drought in California and premieres later this fall.

“Our America: Trouble on Tap” is produced in partnership with Tracy J. Wholf, coordinating producer of the climate unit at ABC News, and Justin Allen, executive producer with ABC Owned Television Stations and National Geographic.

Episodes are available on the 24/7 streaming platforms, 32 connected TV apps across streaming platforms Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku and on Hulu.

About ABC Owned Television Stations
The eight owned ABC stations are multiplatform leaders in local news and information. Collectively No. 1 across all U.S. television, reaching 23% of households and more than 34 million Total Viewers and 48 million digital visitors a month, with a record of 3.1 billion minutes streamed, the eight stations are comprised of WABC-TV New York, KABC-TV Los Angeles, WLS-TV Chicago, WPVI-TV Philadelphia, KGO-TV San Francisco, KTRK-TV Houston, WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham and KFSN-TV Fresno. WABC-New York has remained the No. 1 station in the country for 19 years.

More information about ABC Owned Television Stations streaming channels can be found here: ABC7/WABC-TV New York, ABC7/KABC-TV Los Angeles, ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago, 6ABC/WPVI-TV Philadelphia, ABC7/KGO-TV San Francisco, ABC13/KTRK-TV Houston, ABC11/WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham and ABC30/KFSN-TV Fresno.

Media Contacts:
Fonda Berosini
fonda.berosini@abc.com

Ambir Sniezko
ambir.sniezko@abc.com