Earth Day is a Time to Think About Water

Every Earth Day, we look to the horizon, celebrating electric vehicle mandates, solar power breakthroughs, and ambitious net-zero pledges. But this year, as we gaze at the sky, millions of Americans are being forced to think about something far closer to home: the simple act of turning on a faucet. Accessible and affordable water issues are Earth Day issues, too.

This quiet crisis is getting louder in Michigan. Surrounded by 20% of the world's fresh surface water, the Great Lakes State is a hydrological paradise. Yet, for a growing number of Michigan cities, like Kalamazoo and Inkster, and for families in rural Emmet County, water has become a luxury they cannot afford. As climate change accelerates, we are learning a harsh lesson: Protecting the source means very little when we can't afford to turn on the tap. 

The Affordability Gap

For decades, water affordability was an afterthought. We assumed that if the rain fell and the pipes held, justice was served. But in Michigan, the math has broken.

Since the early 2000s, water rates have skyrocketed by over 80% in many municipalities. Aging infrastructure—some of it over a century old—is collapsing under the stress of climate extremes. Within the last week, Governor Whitmer issued 40 emergency declarations due to flooding across the state. Last summer's flash droughts, followed by atmospheric river-driven flooding, wreaked havoc on treatment plants. The cost of upgrading systems to handle these whiplash weather events is being passed directly to rate-payers.

The result is a crisis of shutoff notices. In Detroit, a water bill can consume 15-20% of a household's take-home pay. This is far above the 3% affordability threshold defined by the EPA. Families have to choose between filling prescriptions and flushing a toilet. 

The Earth Day Climate Connection

We usually talk about climate change in terms of carbon. But on the ground, climate change is a hydrological issue. Warmer winters in Michigan mean less snowpack and more erratic rainfall. This makes water treatment more energy-intensive and expensive.

When a family cannot afford their water bill and gets shut off, the health ramifications spiral. Without running water, they cannot wash hands, fight disease, or hydrate during a heatwave. As Michigan experiences more 90-degree days, a water shutoff isn't just an inconvenience: it can be a death sentence.

Legislation is a Lifeline

Voluntary assistance programs and charity-funded water funds have been band-aids, but they are triage, not a cure. To achieve true affordability in the face of climate uncertainty, we need structural legislation that treats water like the public good it is. 

Michigan House lawmakers have in front of them the Affordable Water Now legislative package, House Bill 4555, 5170-5173. This bill package curbs rising water costs by capping low-income bills at 3% of the household income, protects families from water shutoffs, prohibits liens on property due to water debt, and creates a path to water debt forgiveness.

As we celebrate Earth Day, think beyond the recycling bins and the tree plantings. Look at your water bill. Tell your legislators to support the Affordable Water Now legislative package. In an era of climate change, a flowing tap is a basic need.