LANSING, Mich. (March 20, 2026) — In recognition of World Water Day this Sunday, March 22, Michigan legislators, human service agencies, and local water advocates are promoting awareness of the statewide water affordability crisis and continued legislative efforts to tackle the issue. In response to rising water costs, Sens. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), Rosemary Bayer (D-West Bloomfield), John Damoose (R-Harbor Springs), and community leaders discussed modified bipartisan legislation from previous years that would create a statewide water affordability program, provide several local options, and limit water shutoffs for Michiganders struggling to make ends meet. They also highlighted the need for appropriations for water affordability in the FY 2027 budget.
“The need for this legislation is growing; more Michiganders are struggling to make ends meet — affordability for basic things like water and electricity, groceries and rent are among the foremost concerns for many of our residents,” said Sen. Chang. “We knew three years ago that more than 290,000 Michigan households would benefit from a statewide water affordability program, and with the increases in water rates and the cost of groceries and fuel in the past year, the numbers are likely even greater now.”
Despite being surrounded by 20% of the world’s fresh water, approximately 300,000 Michigan families — from our urban areas to our rural communities — face challenges affording their water bill. And water costs continue to rise, increasing 188% over the past four decades, as water rates have doubled or even tripled in communities across Michigan. To address this issue, Sen. Chang and other state legislators introduced Senate Bills 248-255 last year, modified from legislation introduced in 2023, which would secure the relief Michigan households need while strengthening public health and increasing the stability of our state’s water providers.
“For all our residents, clean, reliable water is essential to our health and well-being. However, too many Michiganders face challenges accessing this essential resource,” said Sen. Bayer. “By addressing the rising cost of water, we can protect the health of families and communities statewide, while also lessening the financial burden stemming from strained household budgets and medical expenses caused by contaminated drinking water. On World Water Day, I’m thrilled to uplift the bipartisan legislation I’ve been working on with my Senate colleagues, along with so many dedicated community leaders, that would tackle this public health crisis head-on and secure the relief Michigan households need and deserve.”
“Low-income residential water customers carry a heavy burden paying for costly water, wastewater, and stormwater services, especially when local rates increase annually,” said Sylvia Orduño, Director at People’s Water Board Coalition. “We need an affordability program for all Michiganders to protect families, seniors, and people with disabilities from water insecurity.”
“When a household loses access to water, it’s not just a utility issue; it’s a crisis that affects children, seniors, and entire communities,” said Lt. Colonel Steven J. Merritt, Divisional Commander at the Salvation Army Great Lakes Division.
“Access to water is a natural-born right,” said Jasmine Carson, Executive Director at Wayne Metro Community Action Organization. “When nearly 40,000 families reached out to Wayne Metro to inquire about water assistance and we had to turn many away, it became clear, this is not a small gap, it’s a growing crisis.”
To support the program, the package would also create a statewide Low-Income Water Affordability Fund based on a $1.25/meter monthly funding factor on water bills and philanthropic donations. Money collected from this method would then be disbursed to providers and program administrators within that same region. This fund closely mirrors the Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP), for which every electric utility customer pays a small monthly fee to ensure that low-income households can get help with their energy bills.
“Clean water is a necessity — not a luxury,” said Daniel Mahoney, Mayor of Jackson. “We’re maintaining critical infrastructure, but no one should lose access because they can’t afford it. These bills ensure every family can access safe, reliable water.”
This legislation would also create a task force representative of various municipal governments, environmental groups, and others representing rural, suburban and urban communities, responsible for advising DHHS on best practices for administering the program, developing educational outreach, seeking funding, and more.
“While we hear so often about affordability and high and increasing utility costs, it is important that we think about water alongside electricity and gas,” said Sen. Damoose. “I’ve chosen to become involved in this bill package because I’ve heard the stories of Michiganders who had their water shut off and the changes to their daily lives that they had to make, and it’s simply unacceptable.”