Jared Strong/States Newsroom
As the Great Lakes State, we take water seriously. But despite our “fresh coast” reputation, we have a lot of work to do when it comes to access to clean water.
It’s no secret that for decades, incomes in our state have lagged behind the rising costs of living for all but the wealthiest households. What’s less well-known is that, over the last 40 years, the cost of water service has risen faster than the cost of any other basic need except health care.
Water is not a luxury. It’s vital to our health and daily life activities like drinking, bathing, cooking and cleaning.
Struggling families often have to sacrifice other survival needs, like medication and healthy food, to pay burdensome water bills. Increasing water costs put the biggest squeeze on the budgets of older adults, young single people and families with children.
In a proposed new plan, all water customers would pay a small monthly surcharge of $2 to assist families up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). For a family of four, that’s about $62,400.
The surcharge funds would be used to lower W/S bills to a manageable 2% of income for families at or below 135% FPL and 3% of income for families from 135% to 200% FPL.
Michigan already has a similar program for energy bill assistance that helps families keep their homes at safe temperatures and supplies energy providers with stable revenue to maintain the entire system.
For the cost of a 20-ounce bottle of pop per month, we can ensure that households also have the water they need and that our water suppliers have the resources to keep delivering reliable, affordable service to all of us.
For too long, Michigan’s national reputation has been shaped by crisis headlines like lead contamination and mass service shutoffs in our communities. Now, the water affordability package presents an opportunity to shine a positive light on our state by making good on their campaign season promises to ease the burden on families.
Water is life. Everyone needs and deserves access to it — regardless of income, race or place.
We encourage you to visit miwaterplan.com to learn more about the difference this plan can make in your community.
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