October 12th, 2020

Dear Senators,

We urge you to take up and support the substitute version of Senate Bill 241 sponsored by Sen. (D-). The bill places a statewide moratorium on water shut offs through the end of the year and ensures water service is restored to any Michigander currently shut off. Access to water is essential to human life at any time, but even more so during a public health pandemic when hand washing and bathing is critical to limiting spread and exposure to COVID-19. Gov. ’s Executive Order 2020-144 required public water supplies to restore water service to Michiganders across the state during the state of emergency. The EO allowed low-income households – many of whom are fixed income, unemployed, underemployed and/or essential workers – to have essential water service. The recent Michigan Supreme Court decision invalidated the EO, leaving behind an inadequate patchwork of local policies for water access for our most vulnerable Michigan households, including the elderly, children, people with disabilities, and pregnant women. Michiganders across the state are experiencing financial hardship that has put their access to basic utility services at risk. This is a statewide problem that needs a statewide solution.

Unfortunately, Michigan has no comprehensive water service reporting requirements so access to data on water shut offs is limited. In Detroit – the most glaring example of water unaffordability and shut offs – a Freedom of Information Act request by Joel Kurth from Bridge Magazine found that 9,500 occupied homes that were disconnected for non-payment in 2019 were still without service in mid-January 2020.1 Further, a national survey found that the average water utility disconnected five percent of households for nonpayment in 2016, affecting an estimated 15 million Americans.2 EO 2020-144 did include a one-time reporting requirement, but the reporting from public water supplies under the EO was flawed and filled with gaps and missing data points. Even with those data gaps, an analysis of that reporting conducted by Michigan Environmental Council revealed that well over 1,000 households had water shut off due to non-payment at the time the EO was issued, including 13 occupied homes in Ann Arbor, 15 in Jackson, 20 in Monroe, and 98 in Highland Park. Given the limited nature of the data and the severity of economic hardship experienced currently by Michiganders, we believe the real extent of water shut offs across Michigan to have been much larger.

During the pandemic and economic downturn, many Michigan residents are struggling to keep up with their water bills. As part of SB 690 the Legislature rightly included $25 million in direct assistance to help Michiganders pay their water bills and provide some measure of protection against potential shut offs. Water utilities, however, had to opt in for this assistance program and not all did. Only 132 of the approximately 1,400 community water system in Michigan opted in to the program, meaning that many Michiganders now have no protection from potential shut offs and very little access to bill assistance. The attached chart compiled by the Natural Resources Defense Council from data provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) shows the utilities that have opted in to the program as well as the extent of accrued arrearages addressed by the assistance program. The chart underscores the depth of financial difficulties currently faced by Michiganders. To-date the assistance program has helped over 75,000 Michigan water- insecure households in cities, villages, and townships across the state address water bill arrearages that have accumulated during COVID.

We understand that restoration of water service incurs costs and that many public water supplies across the state are also struggling financially. Recently MDHHS created the Water Repair Assistance Program to help public water supplies cover the costs of water restorations, including where water disconnections led to

1 Bridge Magazine, Coronavirus Fears Renew Calls for Gov. Whitmer to End Detroit Water Shutoffs, March 2, 2020, https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-health-watch/coronavirus-fears-renew-calls-gov-whitmer-end-detroit-water- shutoffs 2 Food & Water Watch, America’s Secret Water Crisis, October 2018, https://www.foodandwater watch.org/ insight/americas-secret-water-crisis damaged or corroded water or sewer mains and household plumbing.3 This program will help ease the burden of water restorations for water service providers however, Michigan residents still face a patchwork of inadequate local policies for access to water service that can only be remedied by a statewide solution.

Access to water is fundamental to life, especially when fighting COVID-19, which necessitates constant hand- washing and proper sanitation. Lack of water places Michigan residents and community places – including schools, worksites, places of worship, and other shared spaces – at risk. Research conducted by We the People of Detroit demonstrated the clear correlation between water shut offs and COVID-19, showing that areas of Detroit where there were the highest rates of water shut offs were also the same areas hardest hit by COVID- 19.4 Access to water also will support fully opening our economy and getting our children back in school buildings full time.

We respectfully urge you to take up and support Senate Bill 241 and provide the water access protections all Michiganders need to weather this global pandemic in safety and security.

Sincerely,

Crystal Davis Kristy Meyer Vice President of Policy and Strategic Engagement Associate Director Alliance for the Great Lakes Freshwater Future

Sylvia Orduño and Nicole Hill Nicholas James Occhipinti Coordinators Director of Government Affairs People's Water Board Coalition Michigan League of Conservation Voters

Charlotte Jameson Monica Lewis-Patrick Program Director for Legislative Affairs, Energy, CEO Drinking Water We the People of Detroit Michigan Environmental Council Rev. Edward Pinkney Liz Kirkwood, J.D. Chairman, Benton Harbor Community Water Executive Director Council FLOW (For Love Of Water) President-CEO, Black Autonomy Network Community Organization Christy McGillivray Political and Legislative Director Cyndi Roper Sierra Club, Michigan Chapter Michigan Senior Policy Advocate Natural Resources Defense Council Jennifer McKay Policy Director Anthony Spaniola, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council Member MPART Citizens Advisory Work Group Rebecca Meuninck Deputy Director Maureen Taylor Ecology Center State Chair Michigan Welfare Rights Organizations

Bill Wood Executive Director West Michigan Environmental Action Council

3 Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, New Program Helps Low-Income Households That Lack Water Access; Funding is important for protection from COVID-19, October 2, 2020, https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-339--541785--,00.html 4 WLNS6, Detroit Water Shutoffs Led to More COVID-19 Cases, July 9, 2020 https://www.wlns.com/news/michigan/detroit-water-shutoffs-led-to-more-covid-19-cases/

Water Utility Assistance Program5

Water County SD Senator HD Representative Total Arrearage Total Total Provider Amount Arrearage Household (Submitted) (Amount Participants Capped) City Of Wayne 2 Adam 4 Vacant $168,673.48 $168,673.48 664 Hamtramck Hollier-D

Highland Wayne 2 Adam 7 LaTanya Garrett- $206,597.31 $206,597.31 637 Park Hollier-D D

Romulus Wayne 6 Erika 12 -D $160,742.30 $160,742.30 676 Geiss-D

City Of Wayne 7 Dayna 16 Kevin Coleman- $107,056.50 $107,056.50 426 Wayne Polehanki- D D Ash Monroe 17 - 17 Joseph Bellino - $6,496.53 $6,496.53 27 Township R R

Berlin Monroe 17 Dale Zorn- 17 Joesph Bellino-R $3,771.42 $3,520.69 9 Township R

City Of Monroe 17 Dale Zorn- 17 Joseph Bellino-R $188,243.04 $188,243.04 323 Monroe R

City Of Macomb 9 Paul 22 -D $162,001.68 $162,001.68 735 Roseville Wojno-D

City Of Wayne 1 Stephanie 23 - $26,421.84 $26,421.84 88 Trenton Chang-D D

Charter Macomb 8 Peter 24 Steve Marino-R $23,085.76 $23,085.76 74 Township Of Lucido-R Harrison City Of Oakland 11 Jeremy 26 Jim Ellison-D $18,187.09 $18,187.09 81 Madison Moss-D Heights City Of Oakland 11 Jeremy 27 Robert $4,028.17 $4,028.17 6 Huntington Moss-D Wittenberg-D Woods Oakland Oakland 11 Jeremy 27 Robert $19,350.40 $16,775.96 82 WRC - Moss-D Wittenberg-D Ferndale Oakland Oakland 12 Rosemary 29 -D $557,443.18 $536,337.06 2,092 WRC - Bayer-D Pontiac Oakland Oakland 15 Jim 29 Brenda Carter-D $4,546.17 $3,232.96 13 WRC - Keego Runestad-R Harbor Oakland Oakland 15 Jim 29 Brenda Carter-D $398.37 $398.37 1 WRC - Runestad-R Orchard Lake City Of Utica Macomb 8 Peter 30 - $5,749.37 $5,484.60 12 Lucido-R R

Chesterfield Macomb 8 Peter 32 Pamela $20,008.69 $20,008.69 94 Township Lucido-R Hornberger-R

5 Data from Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, compiled by Natural Resources Defense Council on October 12, 2020 City Of New Macomb 8 Peter 32 Pamela $41,928.49 $41,928.49 165 Baltimore Lucido-R Hornberger-R

Ira Township St. Clair 25 Dan 32 Pamela $2,837.45 $2,837.45 7 Lauwers-R Hornberger-R

Kimball St. Clair 25 Dan 32 Pamela $10,039.09 $10,039.09 50 Township Lauwers-R Hornberger-R

Village of Macomb 25 Dan 33 Jeff Yaroch-R $1,573.65 $1,573.65 5 Armada Lauwers-R

Oakland Oakland 12 Rosemary 35 Kyra Harris $577.40 $577.40 5 WRC - Bayer-D Bolden-D Franklin Charter Macomb 8 Peter 36 Douglas $4,788.39 $4,788.39 9 Township Of Lucido-R Wozniak-R Washington Oakland Oakland 11 Jeremy 37 -D $41,810.81 $41,301.06 198 WRC - Moss-D Farmington Hills Old Farm Oakland 11 Jeremy 37 Christine Greig-D $225.00 $225.00 2 Colony Moss-D (Farmington Hills) Oakland Oakland 15 Jim 38 - $42.97 $42.97 1 WRC - Runestad-R R Northville Oakland Oakland 15 Jim 38 Kathy Crawford- $5,772.82 $5,772.82 20 WRC - Runestad-R R Walled Lake Oakland Oakland 15 Jim 39 -R $1,969.60 $1,969.60 4 WRC - Runestad-R Commerce Twp Oakland Oakland 15 Jim 39 Ryan Berman-R $240.94 $240.94 1 WRC - Runestad-R Wolverine Lake Oakland Oakland 13 Mallory 40 - $681.45 $681.45 1 WRC - McMorrow- D Bloomfield D Hills Oakland Oakland 15 Jim 44 -R $580.48 $580.48 4 WRC - White Runestad-R Lake Twp City Of Oakland 13 Mallory 45 Michael Webber- $109,812.37 $98,716.82 311 Rochester McMorrow - R Hills D Oakland Oakland 13 Mallory 45 Michael Webber- $374.83 $374.83 1 WRC - McMorrow- R Rochester D City Of Livingston 22 - 47 Hank Vaupel-R $2,968.12 $2,968.12 23 Howell R

Millpointe Livingston 22 Lana Theis- 47 Hank Vaupel-R $1,025.00 $1,025.00 2 R

City of Clio Genesee 27 Jim 48 Sheryl Kennedy- $2,452.75 $2,452.75 12 Ananich-D D Mt. Morris Genesee 27 Jim 49 John D. Cherry-D $78,680.70 $78,680.70 232 Charter Ananich-D Township City Of Genesee 27 Jim 50 -D $101,847.92 $101,847.92 313 Burton Ananich-D

City Of Genesee 14 Ruth 51 -R $6,957.07 $6,957.07 27 Fenton Johnson-R

City Of Washtenaw 22 Lana Theis- 52 - $1,269.81 $1,269.81 4 Dexter R D

Multi Lake Washtenaw - 22 Lana Theis- 52 Donna Lasinski- $1,081.98 $1,081.98 3 Sewer Livingston R D Authority - Dexter (but serves other communities in Livingston Co.) Village Of Washtenaw 22 Lana Theis- 52 Donna Lasinski- $1,570.28 $1,570.28 10 Manchester R D

YCUA - Washtenaw 18 -D 54 Ronnie Peterson- $99,210.32 $97,539.22 465 Ypsilanti D Community Utility Authority Village Of Monroe 17 Dale Zorn- 56 - $2,642.20 $2,642.20 11 Dundee R R

Village Of Monroe 17 Dale Zorn- 56 Jason Sheppard- $3,684.82 $3,684.82 13 South R R Rockwood Morenci Lenawee 17 Dale Zorn- 57 -R $5,386.06 $5,386.06 36 R

City Of Hillsdale 16 Mike 58 - $2,175.96 $2,175.96 15 Litchfield Shirkey-D R

Reading- Hillsdale 16 Mike 58 Eriic Leutheuser- $9,041.10 $8,862.01 31 Sewer Shirkey-D R

City Of Cass 21 Kim 59 Aaron Miller-R $34,819.59 $34,819.59 99 Dowagiac LaSata-R

City Of Kalamazoo 20 Sean 60 -D $65,264.06 $65,264.06 474 Kalamazoo McCann-D

City Of Battle Calhoun 19 - 62 -D $656,375.55 $654,486.50 2,054 Creek R

City Of Calhoun 19 John Bizon- 62 Jim Haadsma-D $6,265.16 $6,265.16 38 Springfield R

Village Of Van Buren 26 Aric 66 -R $2,653.97 $2,653.97 18 Lawton Nesbitt-R

Village Of Ingham 23 Curtis 67 -D $5,324.40 $5,324.40 11 Stockbridge Hertel-D

Village Of Eaton 24 Tom 71 -D $2,980.37 $2,980.37 5 Vermontville Barrett-R Village Of Berrien 21 Kim 78 -R $1,202.30 $1,202.30 4 Berrien LaSata-R Springs City Of Berrien 21 Kim 79 Pauline $232,526.94 $232,526.94 667 Benton LaSata-R Wendzel-R Harbor City Of St. Clair 25 Dan 81 -R $17,152.35 $17,152.35 40 Marysville Lauwers-R

City Of Lapeer 31 Kevin 82 Gary Howell-R $10,439.58 $10,439.58 42 Lapeer Daley-R

Village Of Lapeer 31 Kevin 82 Gary Howell-R $545.37 $545.37 2 Almont Daley-R

City Of Port St. Clair 25 Dan 83 Shane $152,003.35 $152,003.35 707 Huron Lauwers-R Hernandez-R

Akron Tuscola 31 Kevin 84 -R $831.34 $831.34 7 Daley-R

Village Of Tuscola 31 Kevin 84 Phil Green-R $2,544.80 $2,544.80 10 Mayville Daley-R

Village Of Tuscola 31 Kevin 84 Phil Green-R $1,275.19 $1,275.19 5 Unionville Daley-R

City Of Shiawassee 24 Tom 85 -R $10,243.34 $10,243.34 49 Durand Barrett-R

Village Of Saginaw 32 Ken Horn-R 85 Ben Frederick-R $1,460.22 $1,460.22 8 Merrill

City Of Barry 19 John Bizon- 87 -R $8,506.64 $8,062.14 36 Hastings R

City of Barry 19 John Bizon- 87 Julie Calley-R $1,385.49 $1,385.49 9 Middleville R

City of Barry 19 John Bizon- 87 Julie Calley-R $1,925.83 $1,925.83 11 Nashville R

Village Of Ionia 19 John Bizon- 87 Julie Calley-R $6,027.19 $6,027.19 26 Lyons R

City of Ottawa 30 Roger 88 -R $319.43 $319.43 2 Coopersville Victory-R

City Of Muskegon 34 Jon 91 Greg $9,173.60 $9,173.60 53 Norton Bumstead- VanWoerkom-R Shores R City Of Muskegon 34 Jon 92 -D $197,611.69 $197,611.69 1,103 Muskegon Bumstead- R City Of Muskegon 34 Jon 92 Terry Sabo-D $23,919.53 $23,919.53 108 Muskegon Bumstead- Heights R City of Ovid Clinton 24 Tom 93 -R $1,759.41 $1,759.41 14 Barrett-R

City Of St. Clinton 24 Tom 93 Graham Filler-R $20,251.43 $20,251.43 42 Johns Barrett-R

Village Of Gratiot 33 Rick 93 Graham Filler-R $637.00 $637.00 4 Perrinton Outman-R Bridgeport Saginaw 32 Ken Horn-R 95 - $82,354.54 $82,354.54 198 Water D System Buena Vista Saginaw 32 Ken Horn-R 95 Vanessa Guerra- $76,637.73 $76,637.73 348 Charter D Township Carrollton Saginaw 32 Ken Horn-R 95 Vanessa Guerra- $32,468.02 $32,468.02 137 Township D

City Of Saginaw 32 Ken Horn-R 95 Vanessa Guerra- $1,226,061.69 $1,226,061.69 2,967 Saginaw D

City of Bay Bay 31 Kevin 96 -D $228,703.32 $225,802.51 529 City Daley-R

City Of Gladwin 26 Aric 97 Jason $8,217.77 $8,217.77 81 Gladwin Nesbitt-R Wentworth-R

City Of Clare Clare 33 Rick 97 Jason $13,351.85 $13,351.85 43 Outman-R Wentworth-R

City Of Clare 33 Rick 97 Jason $1,886.43 $1,886.43 14 Harrison Outman-R Wentworth-R

Village Of Clare 33 Rick 97 Jason $1,589.15 $1,589.15 11 Farwell Outman-R Wentworth-R

Marion Osceola 35 Curtis 97 Jason $4,886.21 $4,886.21 22 VanderWall Wentworth-R -R City Of Gladwin 36 Jim 97 Jason $3,168.23 $3,168.23 9 Beaverton Stamas-R Wentworth-R

City Of Midland 36 Jim 98 -R $23,905.78 $23,905.78 129 Midland Stamas-R

City Of Mt Isabella 33 Rick 99 -R $4,022.57 $4,022.57 51 Pleasant Outman-R

Shelby Oceana 34 Jon 100 Scot VanSingel- $5,352.12 $5,352.12 23 Village Bumstead- R R Reed City Osceola 35 Curtis 102 Michele $4,174.29 $4,174.29 37 VanderWall Hoitenga-R -R Traverse City Grand 37 Wayne 104 Larry Inman-R $7,031.79 $7,031.79 71 Traverse Schmidt-R

Mancelona Antrim 37 Wayne 105 -R $6,127.87 $6,127.87 49 Area Water & Schmidt-R Sewer Authority City Of Alpena 36 Jim 106 -R $10,289.83 $10,289.83 68 Alpena Stamas-R

City Of Sault Chippewa 37 Wayne 107 Lee Chatfield-R $11,057.98 $11,057.98 83 Ste Marie Schmidt-R

City Of Iron Dickinson 38 Ed 108 Beau Matthew $8,481.62 $8,481.62 39 Mountain McBroom-R LaFave-R

City Of Dickinson 38 Ed 108 Beau Matthew $940.09 $940.09 8 Kingsford McBroom-R LaFave-R City Of Menominee 38 Ed 108 Beau Matthew $16,438.40 $16,438.40 68 Menominee McBroom-R LaFave-R

City Of Marquette 38 Ed 109 - $7,156.89 $7,156.89 17 Marquette McBroom-R D

City Of Alger 38 Ed 109 Sara Cambensy- $13,896.56 $13,896.56 57 Munising McBroom-R D

City Of Marquette 38 Ed 109 Sara Cambensy- $3,732.05 $3,333.21 6 Negaunee McBroom-R D

County Of Marquette 38 Ed 109 Sara Cambensy- $37,800.08 $37,800.08 79 Marquette - McBroom-R D Kisawyer Adams Houghton 38 Ed 110 Gregory $2,452.70 $2,452.70 12 Township McBroom-R Markkanen-R

Bessemer Gogebic 38 Ed 110 Gregory $12,753.19 $12,753.19 40 McBroom-R Markkanen-R

Charter Gogebic 38 Ed 110 Gregory $3,127.12 $3,127.12 7 Township Of McBroom-R Markkanen-R Ironwood Charter Houghton 38 Ed 110 Gregory $3,518.57 $3,518.57 10 Township Of McBroom-R Markkanen-R Portage Chassell Houghton 38 Ed 110 Gregory $229.85 $229.85 5 Township McBroom-R Markkanen-R

City Of Houghton 38 Ed 110 Gregory $4,032.61 $4,032.61 24 Hancock McBroom-R Markkanen-R

City Of Iron Iron 38 Ed 110 Gregory $15,247.16 $15,247.16 109 River McBroom-R Markkanen-R

City Of Gogebic 38 Ed 110 Gregory $18,201.99 $18,201.99 58 Ironwood McBroom-R Markkanen-R

Michigan Houghton 38 Ed 110 Gregory $12,704.79 $12,704.79 76 American McBroom-R Markkanen-R Water Osceola Twp Houghton 38 Ed 110 Gregory $1,021.79 $1,021.79 4 - TC McBroom-R Markkanen-R

Osceola Twp. Houghton 38 Ed 110 Gregory $886.05 $886.05 7 - DB McBroom-R Markkanen-R

Village Of Houghton 38 Ed 110 Gregory $4,370.01 $4,370.01 13 Lake Linden McBroom-R Markkanen-R

Detroit Water Wayne 1,2 Stephanie 1,2,3, - $11,060,144.63 $9,702,318.68 40,009 & Sewerage ,3, Chang-D, 4,5,6, D, -D, Department 4 Adam 7,8,9, -D, Hollier-D, 10 Cynthia Johnson- Sylvia D, Tyrone Carter- Santana-D, D, LaTanya Marshall Garrett-D, Sherry Bullock II-D Gay-Danongo-D, - D, Leslie Love-D Charter Wayne 7 Dayna 20,21 -D, $33,958.78 $33,958.78 171 Township Of Polehanki- Kristy Pagan-D Canton D City Of Macomb 9 Paul 22,25, John Chirkun-D, $592,685.28 $592,685.28 2,836 Warren - Wojno-D 28 -D, Water -D Charter Macomb 10 Michael 24, 31 Steve Marino-R, $196,039.67 $196,039.67 506 Township Of MacDonald William Sowerby- Clinton -R D City Of Macomb 10 Michael 25, 30 Nate Shannon-D, $110,925.59 $110,925.59 444 Sterling MacDonald Diana Farrington- Heights -R R City of Flint Genesee 27 Jim 34, 49 - $1,869,272.61 $1,869,272.61 4,764 Ananich-D D, John Cherry-D

City Of Ann Washtenaw 18 Jeff Irwin-D 52,53, Donna Lasinski- $22,672.17 $19,396.78 60 Arbor 55 D, - D, -D City Of Kalamazoo 20 Sean 60, 61 Jon Hoadley-D, $147,863.53 $147,863.53 146 Portage McCann-D -R

City Of Jackson 16 Mike 64, 65 Julie Alexander- $157,132.97 $157,132.97 757 Jackson Shirkey-D R, -R Lansing - Ingham 23 Curtis 67, -D $958,799.92 $956,406.60 4,958 BW&L Hertel-D 68, 69

Grand Rapids Kent 29 Winnie 75, 76 David LaGrand- $392,646.64 $383,551.41 1,183 Brinks-D D, - D Dearborn Wayne 3 Sylvia 9,15 Karen Whitsett- $431,507.23 $424,835.09 1,139 Santana-D D, -D Michigan ? $465.92 $465.92 6 American Water - Village of Cal Michigan ? $255.11 $255.11 3 American Water - Village of Hub Michigan ? $4,183.06 $4,038.43 24 American Water - Village of Lau South County ? $19,554.15 $19,554.15 152 Water

Grand Total $21,617,862.20 $20,193,857.58 76,336