In Brooklyn, climate change is often depicted through rising temperatures, flash flooding, and extreme weather events. However, for many families living in New York City Housing Authority developments, its effects are felt more immediately and unsettlingly: in their tap water. Aging infrastructure, compounded by extreme heat and heavy rainfall, further strains already fragile plumbing systems. When families cannot trust the water from their faucets, climate change shifts from an abstract environmental issue to a tangible, daily concern for children’s health.
As a public health student and a Brooklyn mother, I find it impossible to separate discussions of climate change from those about children’s health. The current situation is not only an environmental issue but also a manifestation of long-standing structural inequities. Many NYCHA buildings were constructed decades ago, and although the city’s water supply is considered high quality at its source, conditions in older buildings often differ significantly. Climate-related stressors, such as temperature fluctuations and flooding, accelerate pipe corrosion and increase the risk of contaminants entering the water. Climate change does not create these vulnerabilities, but it significantly intensifies them.
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection reports that the city’s drinking water meets all federal and state safety standards before it reaches residential buildings. However, contaminants such as lead can enter the water as it passes through internal plumbing, particularly in older housing. This distinction is crucial. Safe water at the treatment plant does not always guarantee safe water at the tap, especially in aging NYCHA developments.
It is well established that lead exposure poses serious, irreversible risks to children. Even minimal exposure can affect cognitive development, behavior, and long-term academic outcomes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene continues to identify lead as a persistent public health issue, particularly in vulnerable communities. When climate change is added to this context, with increased heat, storms, and infrastructure stress, the potential for exposure becomes even more concerning.
Climate change also raises concerns about access to water during extreme heat events. Hydration is essential, especially for children, yet families should not have to question the safety of their drinking water. Some NYCHA residents have reported discolored water after storms or service disruptions following heavy rainfall, which may indicate disturbances in aging pipe systems. For families already facing financial constraints, relying on bottled water is neither sustainable nor equitable. Access to clean, safe water must be a basic guarantee rather than a privilege.
NYCHA provides housing for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, many from historically marginalized communities. Ensuring water safety in these developments must be central to any climate resilience strategy. Existing frameworks, such as New York City’s Climate Resiliency Design Guidelines and the federal Lead and Copper Rule, provide a foundation, but meaningful change depends on effective implementation. This requires prioritizing proactive pipe replacement, increasing transparency in water testing, investing in flood mitigation, and prioritizing children’s health in monitoring.
In NYCHA communities, climate change is not solely an environmental issue; it affects daily conditions, including mold after storms, extreme indoor heat, and uncertainty about essential resources such as water.
Brooklyn has long been a borough rooted in resilience and advocacy. However, resilience should not require adapting to unsafe conditions; it should mean demanding better. Investing in NYCHA’s water infrastructure is not solely about repairs. It is about protecting children, advancing environmental justice, and ensuring dignity for families.
No child in Brooklyn should ever have to question the safety of the water in their home. As climate change continues to reshape the city, there is both a responsibility and an opportunity to act. Ensuring safe, reliable water in every NYCHA apartment is not optional; it is essential to building a healthier, more equitable Brooklyn for future generations.
Tatyana Morrison is a public health graduate student from SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University.
