organizing for clean and affordable water
DESCRIPTION
The People’s Water Board is a coalition of labor, social justice, and environmental organizations based in Detroit. They work together to confront: 1) devastating lack of access to water faced by tens of thousands of low-income people who have had their water shut off; 2) water pollution due to aging wastewater infrastructure; and 3) the effort of corporate interests to gain control of Detroit’s water system. Listen to this panel discussion to learn about their struggles and victories.TRANSCRIPT
PWB Coalition PartnersPWB Coalition PartnersAFSCME Local 207AFSCME Local 207
(American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees)(American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees)
Detroit Black Community Food Security NetworkDetroit Black Community Food Security Network
Detroit Green PartyDetroit Green Party
EMEAC EMEAC (East Michigan Environmental Action Council)(East Michigan Environmental Action Council)
Food & Water WatchFood & Water Watch
MECAWI MECAWI (Michigan Emergency Committee Against War and Injustice)(Michigan Emergency Committee Against War and Injustice)
Michigan Welfare Rights OrganizationMichigan Welfare Rights Organization
Rosa Parks InstituteRosa Parks Institute
Sierra ClubSierra Club
PWB MissionPWB Mission
Water is life.
The People’s Water Board advocates for access, protection, and conservation of water.
We believe water is a human right and all people should have access to clean and affordable
water.
Water is a commons that should be held in the public trust free of privatization.
The People’s Water Board promotes awareness of the interconnectedness of all people and
resources.
ACCESS TO WATER FOR ALL ACCESS TO WATER FOR ALL PEOPLEPEOPLE
Our ConcernsOur Concerns Water rates have more than doubled in
the past ten years while the unemployment rate has increased
12,000 shutoffs as of March 10
Only 980 people enrolled in Detroit Residential Water Assistance Program (DRWAP)
ACCESS TO WATER FOR ALL ACCESS TO WATER FOR ALL PEOPLEPEOPLE
Short-Term Goals: Short-Term Goals: Create media/public education campaign on
access to water for all people
Long-Term Goals:Long-Term Goals: Stop water shut-offs in homes of poor and
low-income residents Implement original water affordability plan Obtain enactment of Water Amnesty
program that would forgive overdue water bills of poor and low-income households
Obtain passage of federal law promoting water affordability and access for all people
PROTECTION OF WATER QUALITY PROTECTION OF WATER QUALITY & CONSERVATION OF WATER& CONSERVATION OF WATER
BackgroundBackground World’s largest wastewater treatment plant
at peak flow Services 77 communities and over 3 million people 3,433 miles of sewer lines Treats an average of 619 million gallons per day
ConcernsConcerns Aging Infrastructure
System averages three water main breaks per day Incinerators are out of date Over 30 billions gallons of raw and partially treated
sewage Cost of capital improvements is shared
between Detroit and 76 other communities 83 percent by Detroit 17 percent by surrounding communities
PROTECTION OF WATER QUALITY PROTECTION OF WATER QUALITY & CONSERVATION OF WATER& CONSERVATION OF WATER
PROTECTION OF WATER QUALITY PROTECTION OF WATER QUALITY & CONSERVATION OF WATER& CONSERVATION OF WATER
Short-Term Goals: Short-Term Goals: Create media/public education campaign on water
protection and conservation Home Water Audit Program Rain Barrel and Rain Garden Workshops
Conduct audits of Broken water mains Commercial misuse of water Water shut-offs in homes
Increase fines and advocate for criminal charges for water pollution
Long-Term Goals:Long-Term Goals: Create a “State of the Water” report Stop pollution including sewage overflows, illicit
connections, and illegal dumping Eliminate water bottling and use of bottled water in
Detroit
WATER IS A PUBLIC COMMONSWATER IS A PUBLIC COMMONS
ConcernsConcerns Privatization of system Losing knowledge and expertise
through private contracts
WATER IS A PUBLIC COMMONSWATER IS A PUBLIC COMMONS Short-Term Goals:Short-Term Goals:
Demand transparency of current municipal water board, including full public access to all meeting agendas and minutes (posted on the web), and television broadcast of all board meetings
Demand transparency of all advisory organizations concerning water issues
Long-Term Goals:Long-Term Goals: Obtain enactment of city, state, and federal
laws ensuring that water will be held in the public commons, and that the water and sewerage system be publicly owned and operated
Coming Together to Protect the Coming Together to Protect the CommunityCommunity
Stenciling Stenciling
Storm DrainsStorm Drains
Coming Together to Protect the Coming Together to Protect the CommunityCommunity
WorldWorld
WaterWater
DayDay
Coming Together to Protect the Coming Together to Protect the CommunityCommunity
Coming Together to Protect the Coming Together to Protect the CommunityCommunity
What do we want?What do we want?
Clean WaterClean WaterWhen do we want When do we want
it?it?
NOW!!!NOW!!!What do we want?What do we want?
Affordable Affordable WaterWater
When do we want When do we want it?it?
NOW!!!NOW!!!
The People’s Water Board Coalition The People’s Water Board Coalition urges the Detroit Water Board of urges the Detroit Water Board of
Commissioners to:Commissioners to: Place a moratorium on water shut-offs Fully implement original Water Affordability Plan Televise all Water Board Meetings Publish meeting agendas and minutes on website (minutes
need to include: number of shutoffs, pending shutoffs, volume of combined sewage overflow, water main breaks, contracts, illicit connections or illegal dumping occurrences that were found and penalized)
Stop conservation penalization through rate hikes Stop outsourcing city jobs Involve the public in creating demonstration projects that
engage and educate the community on how to protect and save water (i.e. rain barrels, rain gardens, green roofs, community workshops, etc.)
Provide a public update on the Federal Consent Judgment
*The People’s Water Board hopes to work with the Detroit Water Board of Commissioners to make our water affordable, fishable, swimmable, and kept safe in the public commons.
Home Water Home Water AuditsAudits
Erb Family Foundation grant supports Erb Family Foundation grant supports the cost of training the cost of training materials materials
PurposePurpose Educate participants on how to save water and
money Encourage participants to take the pledge to
protect the Great Lakes by using non-toxic cleaners, planting a tree, installing a rain barrel, planting a rain garden, or replacing an old appliance with a water-efficient ones
Home Water Home Water AuditsAudits
Aging Infrastructure = Combined Aging Infrastructure = Combined Sewage Overflows Sewage Overflows
Compliance of Clean Water Act = New Compliance of Clean Water Act = New InfrastructureInfrastructure
New Infrastructure = Water Rate IncreasesNew Infrastructure = Water Rate Increases Water Rates Increases = Water ShutoffsWater Rates Increases = Water Shutoffs Home Water Audits help residents save water Home Water Audits help residents save water
and money on bills while reducing the volume and money on bills while reducing the volume of wastewater going to wastewater treatment of wastewater going to wastewater treatment plantplant
Home Water Home Water AuditsAudits
Each trainer receives:Each trainer receives:
“How to Host a Home Water Audit” Guide Basket
Aerator, low-flow showerhead Drip meter and shower flow meter Food Dye
20 water audit guides, toilet tummies, and pledge cards
BasementBasement
Test for Water Leaks
1. Turn off everything that uses water and immediately write down your water meter number.
2. Check your water meter again in two hours. If you notice a change in your water meter, you probably have a leak!
Locate Your Main Water Valve
Mark it for quick identification!!!
BathroomBathroomToilet: Test for
Leaks1. Remove the lid off of the toilet tank.
2. Add a few drops of food coloring and wait 10 to 15 minutes.
3. If color appears without flushing, you have a leak!Update your
hardware & appliances
• Purchase aerators for your faucets. They add air to the water stream so you use less water.
• Consider installing new faucets, showerheads, toilets, and replacing your old washing machine or dishwasher. (Look for the EPA label.)
Use Less Water
• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.
• Turn off the water while shaving.
• Do not use the toilet as a garbage can.
• Shorten your shower by a minute or two.
KitchenKitchen
Use Less Water• Capture running water while waiting for the
temperature to change. • Use if for plants or to flush your toilet.
• When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water.
• Use the garbage disposal sparingly.• Keep a container of drinking water in the
refrigerator.
Update your hardware & appliances
• Purchase aerators for your faucets. They add air to the water stream so you use less water.
• Consider installing new faucets, showerheads, toilets, and replacing your old washing machine or dishwasher. (Look for the EPA label.)
OutsideOutside
Use Less Water• Use a broom rather than a hose to
clean off your driveways, steps, and sidewalks.
• Landscape with native plants.• Disconnect your downspouts and
connect rain barrels• Use the collected rain water for your
plants. • Install a rain garden.
JOIN US!!!JOIN US!!!
People’s Water Board Coalitionwww.peopleswaterboard.blogspot.com
Facebook Fan Page“People’s Water Board”