Water Shutoffs in Sharp Focus Amid Coronavirus Outbreak via @NYTimes
DETROIT — The advice is simple and universal: Washing your hands with soap and water is one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of the coronavirus. But for millions of people across the country, that’s not simple at all: They lack running water in their houses due to service shutoffs prompted by […]
Coronavirus makes even finding water to help the needy a struggle in Detroit via @BridgeMichigan
DETROIT — At St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood, dozens of volunteers gathered this week to unload a truck full of water bottles to distribute to those whose water remains off in the city. The center is one of three Detroit water service stations staffed by volunteers, and all have quickly exhausted their […]
Detroiters Without Water Face Tough Odds, Even With Coronavirus Aid via @WDET
“People are already dealing with job loss so this is just compounding on other crises in their life,” says Elin Betanzo, founder of Safe Water Engineering.
‘It’s just despair’: Many Americans face coronavirus with no water to wash their hands via @NBCNews
“The city of Detroit shut off her water late last fall because of unpaid bills and a broken plumbing valve that she couldn’t afford to fix. Griffin, 55, was forced to rely on donated bottled water to drink, cook and bathe. She used space heaters to warm her home; without running water, the boiler didn’t […]
Opinion: Water access urgent in Detroit during outbreak – Elin Betanzo and Sylvia Orduño via @DetNews
You can’t wash your hands if your water has been shut off. Detroiters who have been fighting for a moratorium on water shutoffs for years finally received good news when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced a plan to stop shutoffs and directed the City of Detroit to reconnect water service for all residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. […]
Help us show support for a national moratorium on water and utility shutoffs!!
Thanks to public pressure from people across the country, the US House has proposed legislation calling for a national moratorium on essential utilities, including water and sanitation, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sections 199991 and 199992 of the proposed House bill, released on March 23rd, require states and utilities to “adopt or maintain in force policies […]
Administration Asks NJ Water Companies Not to Shut Off Service If Bills Go Unpaid
“The Murphy administration yesterday asked all water providers in New Jersey to suspend shutoffs for nonpayment of bills until the end of the public health emergency created by the spread of COVID-19. The plea is directed at every water system, public and private, including those operated by municipal governments. They’re all being asked to stop […]
We Demand Emergency Water Stations With Bleach and Cleaning Supplies
Activists want emergency water stations in Detroit, Flint The People’s Water Board Coalition on Friday said it’s awaiting action from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in response to a letter asking the governor to pull together resources, including the National Guard, to set up water stations and provide bleach and other cleaning supplies. The group further warned […]
Water Donations Needed!
On behalf of We the People of Detroit, please donate cases of water which are urgently needed for those who do not have access. Cases of water can be dropped off at St. Peters Episcopal Church (1950 Trumbull) on March 20th from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm. Monetary donations to help secure additional water resources […]
Watch our Tele-Press Conference on the Status of Water Access in Detroit
Please watch this video as we call for urgent action on the restoration of water and sanitation service in Detroit. The state and city response to restore water service in Detroit and across Michigan amidst the COVID-19 crisis has been inadequate. This crisis could have been prevented altogether if government officials had taken seriously and […]