FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: June 5, 2025
Media Contact: Jill Ryan, Executive Director, jill@freshwaterfuture.org
Freshwater Future Applauds Michigan’s New Water Affordability Now Bill
PETOSKEY, MI – Michigan Representative Emily Dievendorf (D-Lansing) has introduced the Water Affordability and Shutoff Protections Act, House Bill 4555, the first bill in a number to make up the Affordable Water Now legislative package. Freshwater Future and advocates from the Water Equals Life (WEL) Coalition —which Freshwater Future co-founded— celebrate this new legislation as a long-overdue solution for hundreds of thousands of Michiganders struggling to pay their water bill.
“The Affordable Water Now legislation offers a commonsense solution to Michigan’s water affordability crisis by lowering costs, increasing collections, and protecting vulnerable households,” said Jill Ryan, Executive Director at Freshwater Future. “Michigan is surrounded by freshwater—there’s no reason our families should be paying more than most Americans for this basic need. This bill is a chance to give Michigan families a break, with income-based billing, debt forgiveness, and shutoff protections that make water both affordable and sustainable.”
Water rates in Michigan have skyrocketed—up 40% on average since 2010 and as much as 320% in some cities—forcing some families to spend a staggering 25% of their disposable income just to keep the water running.
Rising water costs aren’t just a fluke—they’re the result of decades of deferred maintenance, a changing climate, and soaring treatment costs. The federal government has slashed funding by 77%, passing the burden onto states, which in turn shift the cost to local utilities and, ultimately, the customer. The University of Michigan estimates that $19.8 billion is needed to upgrade Michigan’s water infrastructure over the next 20 years.
The Affordable Water Now Bill answers a call to those struggling daily to keep water flowing for their families. The Bill would create a state-wide water affordability program that would provide:
-
Income-Based Water Rates: This approach adjusts water rates using a sliding scale relative to federal poverty level and household income, ensuring water costs are manageable and everyone pays their fair share.
-
Automatic Debt Forgiveness: Offers debt forgiveness for customers who keep up with their adjusted bills, alleviating financial stress on households and preventing costly water shutoffs.
-
Water Shutoff Protections: Protects enrolled customers from water shutoffs as well as households with minors, pregnant individuals, seniors, or those with medical needs. Limited renter protections included.
The Affordable Water Now legislation is modeled after Philadelphia’s Tiered Assistance Program (TAP), which proves that water affordability isn’t just good for families—it’s smart for utilities. The program brought in nearly $5 million in revenue for the city’s Water Department from customers who, without TAP, would’ve remained shut out of the system entirely—money the utility likely never would have recovered.
