FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from People’s Water Board Coalition
July 9, 2020
Contact: Lynna Kaucheck, (586) 556-8805, lynna@engagemichigan.org
Governor’s Action Proves Need for Income-Based Water Bills
Water is a basic human need, water shut-offs should be stopped permanently.
DETROIT – In light of Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order yesterday extending the Executive Order on the restoration of public water services that have been shut-off through the end of the year the People’s Water Board Coalition released the following statement:
“The Governor’s extension of the order for water restoration acknowledges what we’ve known for a long time: families like mine who have been forced to live without water experience serious health threats when we don’t have access to water to wash our hands, which is the number one way to stop the spread of the disease,” said Nicole Hill from the People’s Water Board Coalition. “We all need water to drink, wash, and for sanitation, and while this extension is a step in the right direction it is imperative that the state takes quick action to end water shut-offs for good. The City of Detroit must restore service where it has been disconnected and implement an income-based water affordability program.”
The People’s Water Board Coalition is suing the Governor, Detroit Mayor Duggan, and Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Director Gary Brown, they seek to permanently end water shut-offs and implement an income-based water affordability program, and to protect public
health. “Now is the time to act, pandemic or not, people can’t live without water. Governor Whitmer and Mayor Duggan must work together to ensure that all Michigan residents, particularly in Detroit and Flint, have access to the water and sanitation we need to keep our families and communities healthy,” adds Sylvia Orduño from the People’s Water Board Coalition.
