This is an excerpt of the February 22, 2021 episode of What's Up With Water. The story of the pandemic has been its inequality. By almost every measurement — job losses, vaccine distribution, death rates — the public health emergency has resulted in unequal outcomes. The people hit the hardest are those already on the margins. So it is for water utilities and their customers. Some utilities have financial aid programs and partnerships with community organizations to help customers in need. Charlotte is North Carolina’s largest city. There, residents who call a helpline will be connected to three local nonprofits offering financial assistance during the health emergency. In other places, such as Jamestown, there is no customer aid program, so struggling residents rely on the kindness of strangers.