When the Heat Rises, Water Should Be Within Reach

How climate change and water insecurity are colliding to create a public health crisis

In late June, nearly half of the U.S. population was blanketed by a suffocating wave of extreme heat. Record-breaking temperatures scorched communities across the United States, with June 23–24 marking all-time highs in several states. According to Climate Central, this specific heatwave was made three times more likely due to climate change.

And it's not over. Forecasters are predicting that Summer 2025 will continue to be hotter than normal across most of the country. That means more days above 90°F, more air quality alerts, and more strain on the very systems that are supposed to protect us.

One of those systems is access to safe, affordable water. No exceptions.

But right now, too many people in Michigan are water insecure. In Jackson, Michigan, the city is set to begin shutting off water for nonpayment on August 7, 2025. And in nearby communities, like Toledo, where families are already bracing against the heat, water shutoffs have begun.

Let that sink in: In the middle of a heatwave, people are losing access to water.

We often think of natural disasters as sudden events like floods, fires, and hurricanes (and our hearts go out to communities in Texas that have recently experienced devastating flooding). But heat is a slow, invisible threat that can be just as deadly.

Each year, heatwaves kill more people in the U.S. than any other kind of extreme weather. On average, 700 people die annually from heat-related causes. The risk is especially high for seniors, infants, people with chronic illnesses, and anyone without access to cool spaces or clean water.

Water is not just a comfort in extreme heat. It's a necessity. It regulates body temperature, prevents dehydration and heatstroke, and allows people to cool down through showers, baths, or even wet cloths. Without water, people can’t protect themselves from rising temperatures.

The science is clear: climate change is making extreme heat more common, more intense, and more deadly. As our summers grow hotter, we’ve also seen the erosion of basic public protections, like the ability to turn on your tap without fear of a shutoff.

That’s no accident. It’s the result of policy choices that put profits over people and ignore the reality that water is a basic human need.

Access to water is a frontline defense against climate change and public health emergencies. When families can’t afford their water bills, when utilities shut off service with no safety net, and when policies fail to prioritize equity, we all pay the price, especially during extreme heat events.

Water insecurity is an unacceptable reality anywhere in the world, but especially in a state like Michigan, which is surrounded by 21% of the world’s freshwater. We’re surrounded by the solution.

We must protect vulnerable Michiganders by ensuring that affordable water legislation is passed. We must also recognize that water access is not just a utility issue, or an urban issue, or a rural issue. It’s a statewide and nationwide crisis, made worse by the growing impacts of climate change. Without bold action to guarantee affordable access to clean water, we leave millions exposed to the deadly effects of extreme heat.

The heat isn’t waiting. Neither should we.

If you believe that no one should lose access to water, tell your legislators to support the Water Affordability Now package, HB 4555.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION!

Because in a hotter world, only access to clean, safe, affordable water will keep communities safe.