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In: Advocacy, Detroit, Drinking Water, Equity and Environmental Justice, Feature Detroit, Feature Homepage, infrastructure, Michigan, Municipalities, News, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, water, water affordability, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts
Detroiters can get another 1,125 gallons of water under discount program

This article was republished here with permission from Great Lakes Echo.

By Vladislava Sukhanovskaya, Great Lakes Echo

The city of Detroit and a nonprofit agency recently added 1,125 gallons of water per person per month to a program that prevents water shut-offs in low-income households.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2023/03/detroiters-can-get-another-1125-gallons-of-water-under-discount-program/

Great Lakes Echo

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In: Advocacy, Budget, Detroit, Drinking Water, Environmental Justice, Equity and Environmental Justice, Feature Detroit, Feature Homepage, Latest News, Michigan, News, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, water affordability, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts, Water's True Cost
High Cost of Water Hits Home

By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue

This story is part of “Water’s True Cost,” a series by the Great Lakes News Collaborative focused on the rising cost of water in Michigan and the various causes leading to the state of water systems today. Find the rest of the stories in the series here.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/05/high-cost-water-hits-home-michigan/

Circle of Blue

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In: Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Partnership, data, Drinking Water, infrastructure, Latest News, Michigan, News, PFAS, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, Research, Data and Technology, water affordability
Rising Cost of Water in Michigan Leads to Affordability Problems

By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue

The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan; Circle of Blue; Great Lakes Now at Detroit Public Television; and Michigan Radio, Michigan’s NPR News Leader; who work together to bring audiences news and information about the impact of climate change, pollution, and aging infrastructure on the Great Lakes and drinking water.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/12/cost-water-michigan-affordability-problems/

Circle of Blue

On:
In: Citizen science, community engagement, Environmental Justice, lead contamination, water affordability, Water Equity

Excerpts from American River’s “Water Justice Toolkit: A Guide to Address Environmental Inequities in Frontline Communities”

CLEAN AND SAFE WATER GUIDE (Page 30)

COMMUNITY CASE STUDY: WORKING WITH RESIDENTS TO ENSURESAFE DRINKING WATER

When a municipality issues an advisory on elevated lead levels in drinking water, residents are alarmed and looking for answers. Is my water undrinkable? Do I need a filter? Do I buy bottled water?

Freshwater Future partners community groups to make sure residents understand the advisory. Volunteers train neighbors on how to flush their water and install filters. Freshwater Future has even provided grants to pay volunteer stipends, share educational materials, and complete water testing for lead and other metals. And once the results come in, Freshwater Future is there to help analyze the data and communicate to communities and to the Health Department. Alexis Smith, Community Program and Technical Associate explains, “If you’ve ever seen a water analysis, you can imagine how overwhelmed these residents must feel. Environmental chemistry is not my background, so even for me, it was a learning curve. You have to learn the acronyms and the contaminants and what they can do. We translate and communicate what the data is actually saying.”

When it comes to drinking water, says Smith, “zero amount of lead is safe.” Freshwater Future remains engaged until all lead service lines are replaced or tests prove that the water is safe. “The residents tell us how they would like to move forward, and we support them every step of the way,” she says. “Whether that is through strategy for taking actions or funding to support their initiatives.” Freshwater Future offers a great example of how to follow the lead of the community.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION GUIDE (Page 102)

COMMUNITY CASE STUDY: ORGANIZING FOR WATER SECURITY DURING COVID-19 TOLEDO COMMUNITY WATER COUNCIL

Through robust public participation, the Toledo Community Water Council provides oversight and community support to the city of Toledo. The Council’s collective knowledge and insight have been key to developing the city’s water bill assistance program. Reliable access to water is becoming more expensive, and during COVID, water disconnection can have a devastating public health impact. For years, Freshwater Future has been working with the Toledo Community Water Council to address water issues throughout the City.

For residents experiencing water shutoffs due to nonpayment or leaks, this work has become even more urgent during the pandemic. “Utilities are run by engineers; often they don’t think about the social impact of these shutoffs on people working check to check,” says Alexis Smith, Community Program and Technical Associate for Freshwater Future. “When we organize to find solutions, our goal is—turn the water on, keep the water on.” Members of the Toledo Community Water Council organized to respond to rising water rates and the inequity and harm that results when city governments and utilities are not proactive and transparent. Freshwater Future has helped individual residents request assessments to identify water leaks driving up their water bills and file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to understand why water rates continue to increase. They also helped the municipality identify funding for full lead service line replacement in order to lower the cost burden on residents.

To view the  full report by American Rivers:  Water Justice Toolkit: A Guide to Address Environmental Inequities in Frontline Communities

Original Article

Blog – Freshwater Future

Blog – Freshwater Future

https://freshwaterfuture.org/environmental-justice/water_justice_sections/

Ann Baughman

On:
In: Chicago, Cleveland, Collaboration, Detroit, Drinking Water, Feature Cleveland, Feature Detroit, Feature-Chicago, Illinois, Latest News, Michigan, Mott Foundation Partnership, Municipalities, News, Ohio, Pennsylvania, philadelphia, utilities, water affordability
Lack of Utility Data Obscures Customer Water Debt Problems

By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue

The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan; Circle of Blue; Great Lakes Now at Detroit Public Television; and Michigan Radio, Michigan’s NPR News Leader; who work together to bring audiences news and information about the impact of climate change, pollution, and aging infrastructure on the Great Lakes and drinking water.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/10/utility-data-customer-water-debt-problems/

Circle of Blue

On:
In: Freshwater Weekly, Lake Erie Algae, Lake Michigan, PFAS, Public Health, water affordability

July 2, 2020

This week: Public Health and Water Affordability Focus of All About Water Webinar + Lake Erie Harmful Algal Blooms Forecast Program + Illinois Announces Two Funding Sources for Improving Water Quality +  Michigan House Passes Bill For Toxic Firefighting Foam To Be Reported And Disposed + Potential for Mirages on Lake Michigan from Weather Conditions

Public Health and Water Affordability Focus of All About Water Webinar 

It is no secret, but access to clean, safe water is essential to prevent public health problems. This week’s first All About Water Webinar featured amazing presentations on contaminated drinking water and connections to public health problems, including research in Detroit on mapping the water crisis that revealed the inequities that illustrate the impact of water shutoffs on public health.

Limited space available in webinar next week:

Policy & Water Affordability Webinar, Wed, July 8, 10 am to Noon ET

Strategy Session & Water Affordability, Thurs, July 9, 2020, 2-4 pm ET

Register here to participate.

Video recordings, presentations, and resources from the first four sessions featuring equity and community roles in water affordability will be available on our website.

Lake Erie Harmful Algal Blooms Forecast Program

An Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Laboratory webinar on July 9 will discuss the forecast for harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie for 2020. Less rainfall that distributes nutrient pollutant into the rivers connected to Lake Erie may lessen the severity of the blooms in 2020 compared to 2019. However there is no accurate prediction of the level of toxicity of harmful blooms until they occur.  Register for the webinar here.

Illinois Announces Two Funding Sources for Improving Water Quality 

The Illinois EPA announced the availability of $9.5 million in grants to improve the quality of water. The Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan provides $5 million in grants to build green infrastructure, such as rain gardens and green roofs, to reduce pollution from stormwater.  An additional $4.5 million of federal funds are available to address water quality issues directly related to polluted runoff or nonpoint source pollution.

Michigan House Passes Bill For Toxic Firefighting Foam To Be Reported And Disposed

Michigan House approved a bill that mandates fire departments and chiefs to report their use of firefighting foam with toxic PFAS within 48 hours of use. The state environmental department is required to accept the foam and dispose of it properly. State funding support is anticipated so fire departments will not incur disposal costs.

Weather Conditions Right for Mirages on Lake Michigan  

Ghostly ships and buildings may be visible this week on Lake Michigan due to the warm temperatures and calm conditions.  The mirages, called superior images appear reversed and floating above the water.

Original Article

Blog – Freshwater Future

Blog – Freshwater Future

https://freshwaterfuture.org/lake-erie-algae/11747/

Alexis Smith

On:
In: COVID-19, Drinking Water, Freshwater Weekly, keepwateron, lake erie, Lake Michigan, makewateraffordable, turnwateron, water affordability

May 15, 2020

This week: Freshwater Future Applauds New Ohio Bills to Protect Water Safety and Affordability + Covid-19 Stimulus Package Should Support Green Water Infrastructure + 3D Mapping of Plastic Pollution in Lake Erie + Sewage Could Help Track Coronavirus + Lake Michigan/Huron Breaks Water Level Record Four Months Running

Freshwater Future Applauds New Ohio Bills to Protect Water Safety and Affordability

Partnering with advocates from across the region, Freshwater Future has been working to ensure water at residents’ taps is free from lead and is affordable.  This week, an Ohio bill was introduced to move those issues forward. Ohio Representative Erica Crawley introduced legislation that will prevent water shut offs and require development of water affordability programs by utilities.

Covid-19 Stimulus Package Should Support Green Water Infrastructure

As the Covid-19 stimulus package includes funds for green water infrastructure, Philadelphia demonstrates leverage of these investments to support family health and community economy is possible. Emerging from old traditions, the stimulus package should support decentralized practices. Freshwater Future believes to move from the Covid-19 crisis more equitably, we need future stimulus packages to include investments in our urban and rural water infrastructure.

3D Mapping of Plastic Pollution in Lake Erie

Some plastic floats and some sinks.  According to a recent study by students at Rochester Institute of Technology that looked at how plastic moves, it’s estimated that there is 380 tons of plastic at the bottom of Lake Erie.  An expansion of the study to Lake Ontario will consider how plastics move from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario over Niagara Falls.

Sewage Could Help Track Coronavirus 

Toledo is participating in a research project to determine if sewage can help track the coronavirus.  Studies show that because of how the virus moves through the human body, it can be found in wastewater. The analysis of weekly samples from water treatment plants will hopefully give insight on where and when the next outbreak occurs to better prepare the community.

Lake Michigan and Huron Break Water Level Record Four Months Running 

Lakes Michigan and Huron (considered one connected lake) set a new water level record for the fourth month in a row and is currently three feet higher than the average long-term level. The Army Corps of Engineers says the lake keeps getting deeper.

Original Article

Blog – Freshwater Future

Blog – Freshwater Future

https://freshwaterfuture.org/uncategorized/freshwater-weekly-may-18-2020-2/

Alexis Smith

On:
In: COVID-19, keepwateron, makewateraffordable, Media, Ohio, turnwateron, water affordability

For Immediate Release

May 15, 2020

 

Media Contact:

Kristy Meyer, Associate Director

Freshwater Future

kristy@freshwaterfuture.org

614-638-8948

 

Freshwater Future Organization, Others Applaud Introduction of Water Affordability Legislation in Ohio

Columbus, OH – On Thursday May 15, 2020, Representative Erica Crawley (D-Columbus) introduced state legislation that will ensure clean, safe, affordable water for everyone in Ohio. 

Nationwide, more than a third of all households will not be able to pay their water bill by the end of 2022 according to a report out of Michigan State University. In Ohio, a report on water and sewer affordability found that in nearly 80 percent of Ohio communities, a month of basic water and sewer service requires more than eight hours of labor at minimum wage. The report also  found that water costs are disproportionately felt in communities of color which have been redlined and disinvested in for decades along with rural communities that do not have enough people to pay for maintaining and upgrading the water infrastructure. 

“Freshwater Future applauds Representative Crawley for her leadership to ensure everyone has access to clean, safe, and affordable water,” said Kristy Meyer, Associate Director at Freshwater Future. “As water rates and economic inequality rise, many Ohioans are losing access to water, a basic human need. Hard decisions are being made between rent, food, medical care, electricity and water – the necessities for life. Without clean, safe water flowing into homes, people cannot wash their hands and keep good hygiene, possibly leading to public health issues that also impact our economy, kids being bullied at school, and families being torn apart.” 

In 2016, more than 15 million Americans, or 1 out of every 20 households, had their water shutoff due to inability to pay their water bill. Thousands across the state last year had to make the hard decision between putting food on the table and paying their water bill. COVID-19 has further illuminated how important it is to have access to running water in homes. When Ohioans do not have access to water in their homes, they cannot follow the CDC’s number one recommendation for preventing the spread of COVID-19 – washing hands.  

The legislation specifically:

  • Bans water shutoffs for nonpayment;
  • Requires public water utilities to create a water affordability program based on available income of the household;
  • Requires public water utilities to develop an emergency water assistance program for people who cannot afford to pay 

  • their water bill when they fall on hard times; and
  • Addresses past debt with the ability for forgiveness of debt.

### 

About Freshwater Future: Freshwater Future builds a strong and effective environmental community working to protect and restore the waters of the Great Lakes by involving residents in civic decision-making. Learn more at freshwaterfuture.org

Original Article

Blog – Freshwater Future

Blog – Freshwater Future

https://freshwaterfuture.org/uncategorized/11578/

Alexis Smith

On:
In: COVID-19, Drinking Water, water access, water affordability
Late last week, like everyone else, we learned that schools were shutting down due to the COVID-19 crisis. As a result, kids would be home, which meant parents would likely need to be home as well and some without access to running water. In order to contain a virus from spreading people need to be able to wash their hands. Freshwater Future staff quickly got to work with partners and started to call and email communities and cities to urge them to restore residential water services and halt future shutoffs until this crisis is over.

 

We quickly learned some cities like Cincinnati were proactive and understand the need to restore residential services. Other cities like Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus, Marysville, and Bellefontaine were not so proactive. Freshwater Future worked with the city of Columbus and small municipalities like Marysville, Bellefontaine, and others to put into place moratoriums on future water shut-offs and the restoration of residential water services. In addition, we worked with our partners at Junction Coalition and the Ohio Environmental Council to restore water to residents and halt future shutoffs in Toledo. We knew our partner, the Alliance for the Great Lakes was working with the city of Cleveland to successfully restore residential water services and halt future shutoffs. We also partnered up with the Alliance for the Great Lakes to urge the Governor to call for all utilities across the state to restore residential water services and halt future shutoffs. As a result, the Governor called on the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to work with the private water companies to restore residential water services and halt future water shutoffs, which they did on Monday, March 16th. We are now waiting for the Governor’s office to share their legislation they are working on to require all utilities in Ohio to restore residential water services.

Freshwater Future continues to keep its ear to the ground and support communities that are suffering from water issues at this time, from water shutoffs to impacts from partial lead line replacement. We spoke with the Governor’s office and Ohio EPA on Monday about added stress on residents from partial lead line replacements. We urged the Ohio EPA to talk with the utilities to halt all partial lead line replacement at this time. On Monday, March 16th, the Ohio EPA asked all water utilities to halt partial lead line replacement and provide people with filters until this crisis is over. In addition, we reached out to the city of Toledo, who was continuing to move forward with partial lead line replacement and asked them to halt partial lead line replacements.  We encouraged them to work with us and other experts to put together a plan for full lead line replacement. In addition, we asked the city of Toledo to request in the RFP for a report on affordable water rates that full lead line replacement be part of the cost of making the utility financially whole while creating affordable water rates for residents. We were told today they halted the partial lead line replacements and are looking forward to working with us to develop the plan and RFP. It is important to note, Freshwater Future has been supporting the Junction Coalition and other community members in obtaining a seat at the decision-making table to discuss water rates and programs, like emergency assistance and conservation.
Contact Kristy Meyer for more information, kristy at freshwaterfuture.org

Original Article

Blog – Freshwater Future

Blog – Freshwater Future

https://freshwaterfuture.org/drinking-water/restoring-water-access-in-ohio/

Ann Baughman