Water Equals Life: Organizing for Water Affordability, Dignity, and Change

What Happens When Communities Say: Enough?

What happens when communities refuse to accept the unacceptable? When neighbors, advocates, and everyday people come together and say: Enough?

This is the story of how the WEL Coalition was born. From kitchen-table conversations to a powerful, united front demanding something every human being deserves: affordable water. It’s a journey that began with people across Michigan raising their voices, and it's now on the verge of changing policy statewide. Rooted in community, fueled by crisis, and led by those most impacted, this is a movement built on one simple but radical truth:

Water is a basic human need. And we won’t stop until our laws reflect that.

In 2014, the realities of Michigan’s water affordability crisis could no longer be ignored. Communities across the state were grappling with lead toxicity, rising bills, water shutoffs, and aging infrastructure that disproportionately harmed low-income and marginalized residents.

In response, We the People of Detroit began a bold research initiative to map the scale and impact of water insecurity in Detroit and across Michigan. The result was the 2016 release of Mapping the Water Crisis, a groundbreaking book that documented the intersection of racial inequity, economic disinvestment, and public health threats in our water systems.

The publication didn’t just provide data—it lit a spark. It became a rallying cry for communities demanding change.

As momentum grew, so did the movement. More than 40 entities—ranging from local grassroots groups to environmental justice networks and concerned individuals—came together to shape a unified vision. This work was further strengthened through the formation of the Michigan Water Unity Table, a statewide convening led by Freshwater Future and We the People of Detroit, designed to bridge local movements across the state, share strategies, and align around a collective commitment to water access for everyone. Between 2018 and 2021, the Unity Table became a vital space for trust-building, cross-movement dialogue, and joint problem-solving.

Together, these leaders asked:

• How do we center the voices of those most impacted by water insecurity?

• How do we ensure that access to water is treated as a public good?

• How do we create statewide policy rooted in equity and sustainability?

Out of these conversations, the Ten-Point Water Affordability Plan was born. At its core, the Ten-Point Pledge calls for a transformation in how water is governed and delivered in Michigan:

• Water is a public good, not a commodity to be privatized or exploited for profit.

• Affordability must be tied to income, not arbitrary volume-based rates.

• Shutoffs are a violation of human dignity and must be permanently eliminated as a policy tool.

• Customer service and proactive engagement must be central values, not afterthoughts.

• Water assistance is not the same as water affordability, and only structural solutions will solve the crisis.

Building on this deep, statewide collaboration, the National Wildlife Federation partnered with We the People of Detroit and Freshwater Future, providing legal expertise and helping to transform the Ten-Point Water Affordability Pledge into legislation for the state of Michigan. From that effort, the Water Equals Life (WEL) Coalition was born. Today, WEL unites more than 25 local, state, and national members around one core mission: making safe, affordable water a reality for every Michigan resident.

We are not interested in patchwork solutions or short-term fixes. We are building a future where water security is woven into the fabric of our laws and our communities, where no household has to choose between paying their water bill and putting food on the table.

Today, we stand at a historic turning point.

After years of grassroots organizing, public education, and relentless advocacy, the WEL Coalition is proud to stand alongside State Representative Emily Dievendorf in introducing the Water Affordability and Shutoff Protections Act, the first of five bold bills that will make up the Affordable Water Now legislative package, shaped by the Ten-Point Water Affordability Plan. This bold bill package brings our vision one step closer to reality—establishing income-based water rates, ending harmful shutoffs, providing long-overdue debt relief for Michigan families, protections against liens, and more.

Together, we’re building a future where every household can count on safe, affordable water. No exceptions.

Add your voice by telling your legislator you support the Affordable Water Now Act and the right to safe, affordable water for all.

Take Action Now!