PWB Coalition PartnersPWB Coalition PartnersAFSCME Local 207AFSCME Local 207

(American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees)(American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees)

Detroit Black Community Food Security NetworkDetroit Black Community Food Security Network

Detroit Green PartyDetroit Green Party

EMEAC EMEAC (East Michigan Environmental Action Council)(East Michigan Environmental Action Council)

Food & Water WatchFood & Water Watch

MECAWI MECAWI (Michigan Emergency Committee Against War and Injustice)(Michigan Emergency Committee Against War and Injustice)

Michigan Welfare Rights OrganizationMichigan Welfare Rights Organization

Rosa Parks InstituteRosa Parks Institute

Sierra ClubSierra Club

PWB MissionPWB Mission

Water is life.

The People’s Water Board advocates for access, protection, and conservation of water. 

We believe water is a human right and all people should have access to clean and affordable

water.

Water is a commons that should be held in the public trust free of privatization. 

The People’s Water Board promotes awareness of the interconnectedness of all people and

resources.

ACCESS TO WATER FOR ALL ACCESS TO WATER FOR ALL PEOPLEPEOPLE

Our ConcernsOur Concerns Water rates have more than doubled in

the past ten years while the unemployment rate has increased

12,000 shutoffs as of March 10

Only 980 people enrolled in Detroit Residential Water Assistance Program (DRWAP)

ACCESS TO WATER FOR ALL ACCESS TO WATER FOR ALL PEOPLEPEOPLE

Short-Term Goals: Short-Term Goals: Create media/public education campaign on

access to water for all people

Long-Term Goals:Long-Term Goals: Stop water shut-offs in homes of poor and

low-income residents Implement original water affordability plan Obtain enactment of Water Amnesty

program that would forgive overdue water bills of poor and low-income households

Obtain passage of federal law promoting water affordability and access for all people

PROTECTION OF WATER QUALITY PROTECTION OF WATER QUALITY & CONSERVATION OF WATER& CONSERVATION OF WATER

BackgroundBackground World’s largest wastewater treatment plant

at peak flow Services 77 communities and over 3 million people 3,433 miles of sewer lines Treats an average of 619 million gallons per day

ConcernsConcerns Aging Infrastructure

System averages three water main breaks per day Incinerators are out of date Over 30 billions gallons of raw and partially treated

sewage Cost of capital improvements is shared

between Detroit and 76 other communities 83 percent by Detroit 17 percent by surrounding communities

PROTECTION OF WATER QUALITY PROTECTION OF WATER QUALITY & CONSERVATION OF WATER& CONSERVATION OF WATER

PROTECTION OF WATER QUALITY PROTECTION OF WATER QUALITY & CONSERVATION OF WATER& CONSERVATION OF WATER

Short-Term Goals: Short-Term Goals: Create media/public education campaign on water

protection and conservation Home Water Audit Program Rain Barrel and Rain Garden Workshops

Conduct audits of Broken water mains Commercial misuse of water Water shut-offs in homes

Increase fines and advocate for criminal charges for water pollution

Long-Term Goals:Long-Term Goals: Create a “State of the Water” report Stop pollution including sewage overflows, illicit

connections, and illegal dumping Eliminate water bottling and use of bottled water in

Detroit

WATER IS A PUBLIC COMMONSWATER IS A PUBLIC COMMONS

ConcernsConcerns Privatization of system Losing knowledge and expertise

through private contracts

WATER IS A PUBLIC COMMONSWATER IS A PUBLIC COMMONS Short-Term Goals:Short-Term Goals:

Demand transparency of current municipal water board, including full public access to all meeting agendas and minutes (posted on the web), and television broadcast of all board meetings

Demand transparency of all advisory organizations concerning water issues

Long-Term Goals:Long-Term Goals: Obtain enactment of city, state, and federal

laws ensuring that water will be held in the public commons, and that the water and sewerage system be publicly owned and operated

Coming Together to Protect the Coming Together to Protect the CommunityCommunity

Stenciling Stenciling

Storm DrainsStorm Drains

Coming Together to Protect the Coming Together to Protect the CommunityCommunity

WorldWorld

WaterWater

DayDay

Coming Together to Protect the Coming Together to Protect the CommunityCommunity

Coming Together to Protect the Coming Together to Protect the CommunityCommunity

What do we want?What do we want?

Clean WaterClean WaterWhen do we want When do we want

it?it?

NOW!!!NOW!!!What do we want?What do we want?

Affordable Affordable WaterWater

When do we want When do we want it?it?

NOW!!!NOW!!!

The People’s Water Board Coalition The People’s Water Board Coalition urges the Detroit Water Board of urges the Detroit Water Board of

Commissioners to:Commissioners to: Place a moratorium on water shut-offs Fully implement original Water Affordability Plan Televise all Water Board Meetings Publish meeting agendas and minutes on website (minutes

need to include: number of shutoffs, pending shutoffs, volume of combined sewage overflow, water main breaks, contracts, illicit connections or illegal dumping occurrences that were found and penalized)

Stop conservation penalization through rate hikes Stop outsourcing city jobs Involve the public in creating demonstration projects that

engage and educate the community on how to protect and save water (i.e. rain barrels, rain gardens, green roofs, community workshops, etc.)

Provide a public update on the Federal Consent Judgment

*The People’s Water Board hopes to work with the Detroit Water Board of Commissioners to make our water affordable, fishable, swimmable, and kept safe in the public commons.

Home Water Home Water AuditsAudits

Erb Family Foundation grant supports Erb Family Foundation grant supports the cost of training the cost of training materials materials

PurposePurpose Educate participants on how to save water and

money Encourage participants to take the pledge to

protect the Great Lakes by using non-toxic cleaners, planting a tree, installing a rain barrel, planting a rain garden, or replacing an old appliance with a water-efficient ones

Home Water Home Water AuditsAudits

Aging Infrastructure = Combined Aging Infrastructure = Combined Sewage Overflows Sewage Overflows

Compliance of Clean Water Act = New Compliance of Clean Water Act = New InfrastructureInfrastructure

New Infrastructure = Water Rate IncreasesNew Infrastructure = Water Rate Increases Water Rates Increases = Water ShutoffsWater Rates Increases = Water Shutoffs Home Water Audits help residents save water Home Water Audits help residents save water

and money on bills while reducing the volume and money on bills while reducing the volume of wastewater going to wastewater treatment of wastewater going to wastewater treatment plantplant

Home Water Home Water AuditsAudits

Each trainer receives:Each trainer receives:

“How to Host a Home Water Audit” Guide Basket

Aerator, low-flow showerhead Drip meter and shower flow meter Food Dye

20 water audit guides, toilet tummies, and pledge cards

BasementBasement

Test for Water Leaks

1. Turn off everything that uses water and immediately write down your water meter number.

2. Check your water meter again in two hours. If you notice a change in your water meter, you probably have a leak!

Locate Your Main Water Valve

Mark it for quick identification!!!

BathroomBathroomToilet: Test for

Leaks1. Remove the lid off of the toilet tank.

2. Add a few drops of food coloring and wait 10 to 15 minutes.

3. If color appears without flushing, you have a leak!Update your

hardware & appliances

• Purchase aerators for your faucets. They add air to the water stream so you use less water.

• Consider installing new faucets, showerheads, toilets, and replacing your old washing machine or dishwasher. (Look for the EPA label.)

Use Less Water

• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.

• Turn off the water while shaving.

• Do not use the toilet as a garbage can.

• Shorten your shower by a minute or two.

KitchenKitchen

Use Less Water• Capture running water while waiting for the

temperature to change. • Use if for plants or to flush your toilet.

• When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water.

• Use the garbage disposal sparingly.• Keep a container of drinking water in the

refrigerator.

Update your hardware & appliances

• Purchase aerators for your faucets. They add air to the water stream so you use less water.

• Consider installing new faucets, showerheads, toilets, and replacing your old washing machine or dishwasher. (Look for the EPA label.)

OutsideOutside

Use Less Water• Use a broom rather than a hose to

clean off your driveways, steps, and sidewalks.

• Landscape with native plants.• Disconnect your downspouts and

connect rain barrels• Use the collected rain water for your

plants. • Install a rain garden.

JOIN US!!!JOIN US!!!

People’s Water Board Coalitionwww.peopleswaterboard.blogspot.com

Facebook Fan Page“People’s Water Board”