{"id":7914,"date":"2024-05-08T11:44:41","date_gmt":"2024-05-08T15:44:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatedems.com\/chang\/?p=7914"},"modified":"2024-05-08T11:50:01","modified_gmt":"2024-05-08T15:50:01","slug":"water-affordability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.senatedems.com\/chang\/2024\/05\/08\/water-affordability\/","title":{"rendered":"During Drinking Water Week, Legislators and Stakeholders Urge Action on Water Affordability Legislation\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ theme_builder_area=”post_content” _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/span>\u00a0
<\/span>May 8, 2024<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Media Contact: Mary Dettloff, Compass Strategies, maryd@compass-strategies.com<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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During Drinking Water Week, Legislators and Stakeholders Urge Action on Water Affordability Legislation<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

DETROIT, Mich. \u2013 May 5-11 is Drinking Water Week and legislators, water providers, and community agencies are urging action on legislation to create a water affordability program in Michigan. More than 100 local and county elected officials have sent letters to legislative leaders in support of the bills (see attached)\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“Drinking Water Week reminds us that in Michigan, we are surrounded by fresh water yet have not ensured that every Michigander has access to water regardless of where they live in the state or how much money they have,” said Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), lead sponsor of the legislation to create a statewide Water Affordability Program. “New data shows that between 290,000 and 390,000 Michigan households, in every region of this state, could benefit from a statewide low-income water affordability program, and we know this solution is not only the right thing to do for our families, but also promotes greater public health and helps ensure stability for our municipal water providers across the state.”<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

New statewide data from the University of Michigan and Public Sector Consultants shows the breadth of the water affordability problem in Michigan, with between 290,000 and 390,000 households struggling to pay their water bills. This includes water customers in urban neighborhoods, as well as customers in the suburbs and small rural communities. Data from the University of Michigan and Public Sector Consultants include a county-by-county breakdown of approximately how many residents would benefit from the proposed statewide low-income water residential affordability program and can be found at the links below.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMost municipal water systems are funded solely on the revenue they collect when customers pay their bills in full,\u201d said Gary Brown, director of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. \u201cHowever, when our customers are struggling to pay their water bills, that revenue goes uncollected and ultimately ends up as a bad debt expense. Water providers have no choice but to raise rates to cover the loss. The Water Affordability legislation would help this problem by helping those struggling address past-due bills and establish a monthly bill they can pay.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Michigan Low-Income Water Residential Affordability Program would:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n