Detroit Water Shutoffs

Haggadah Section: Urchatz

Why is it a privilege to wash our hands?

The article below, from the Detroit Free Press, published March 26, 2018, talks briefly about the impending water shutoffs in the city. The majority of households that are at risk for having their water turned off are in lower income areas. The current price for water is too high for people to pay in addition to other necessary living expenses. 

As we take this time to wash our hands and wash each others' hands, remember that this is a privilege. Should it be a right?

About 17,461 Detroit households are at risk for water shutoffs next month when the city's water department resumes its controversial program, the Free Press has learned. 

The potential shutoffs have angered some local activists who argue the city should instead create a comprehensive affordability plan to help prevent service interruptions altogether.

Water shutoffs have long been a divisive issue in Detroit. The shutoffs made international headlines in 2014 when tens of thousands of shutoffs began, catching the attention of United Nations officials.

"When I got here, 50,000 people were at risk of being shut off and 44,000 were actually shut off," Water and Sewerage Director Gary Brown said in an interview. "The United Nations was here, people were picketing, and rightly so, saying this was inhumane and unfair." 

Last year, the water department shut off 17,689 delinquent accounts, a 20% drop from 2016 when there were close to 28,000 service interruptions, according to officials.

The average past due amount is $663, Brown said, adding that he expects the number of at-risk customers to drop significantly by May because he expects most customers will come in to set up payment arrangements.

Source:  
Katrease Stafford, Detroit Free Press

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