Millions of people could be at risk of water shutoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic because high water rates are making water bills unaffordable.
A study released last week estimates that nearly 15% of COVID-19 deaths could’ve been prevented by a national utility shutoff moratorium. It’s up to us to turn up the pressure on President Biden to issue a nationwide moratorium on water shutoffs.
Mary Grant
Public Water For All Campaign Director
Food & Water Watch
John,
In the first few days of his administration, President Biden signed more than a dozen executive orders — to start repairing the damage done by Trump, and start taking steps in the right direction to address the climate crisis.
These executive orders are a good way to begin tackling issues quickly at a national level, but there’s something missing from President Biden’s list of priorities that needs to be addressed immediately: water shutoffs.
Even during a pandemic, utility companies continue to shut off water access in households where people aren’t able to pay their bills. This is unconscionable, and a peril to public health. We’re almost a full year into this public health crisis and millions of people across the country could be unable to wash their hands because their water is turned off.
President Biden must issue an executive order mandating a national water shutoff moratorium so that access to water is guaranteed for all.
If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that when we come together we can do amazing things. That’s why we’re having a Day of Action this Monday, February 1st to put pressure on President Biden to stop the water shutoffs. On our day of action, we’ll be using social media to show the president our widespread support to guarantee water for all.
According to recent research from Duke University, a nationwide moratorium on utility shutoffs between March and November of last year would have reduced infection rates by an estimated 8.7 percent, and deaths by 14.8 percent. These stark numbers expose the inequality crisis in our country and demonstrate that federal action must be taken to save lives and reduce suffering.
Shutoffs are occurring primarily in low-income communities and communities of color with higher poverty levels. Households are now struggling to prevent the rampant spread of the coronavirus, as well as prevent their own families from becoming sick because they don’t have running water to wash their hands.
You’ve joined us in fighting water shutoffs since the beginning of this pandemic. And together, we took action to fight to win hundreds of local and state water shutoff moratoria, protecting two-thirds of the country. But since then, state and local moratoria that were in place have been expiring, and more than 72 million people have lost the protections we helped win.
The current emergency has made it clear: Withholding water costs lives. Public health depends on water access. We need our federal government to step up and ensure that everyone's access to water is protected to keep ourselves and our communities safe.
Each day we’re seeing bigger and bigger impacts of our work. But too many communities around the country are left behind. It’s time for federal action.
Wenonah Hauter
Founder and Executive Director
Food & Water Watch
P.S. Follow Food & Water Watch on Facebook and Twitterto join us in pressuring President Biden to stop the shutoffs on our Day of Action (Monday, February 1st).
Food & Water Watch and its affiliated organization, Food & Water Action, are advocacy groups with a common mission to protect our food, water and climate. This email was sent to [email protected] - and we're glad you got it, because it's one of the most important ways you can reclaim political power, hold elected officials accountable and resist corporate control.
