Water Debt

Circle of Blue · A Circle of Blue Investigation: Water Debt

Chart: Customer Water Debt Data in 12 U.S. Cities

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October 15, 2020

Millions of U.S. households are behind on their water bills,…

Lack of Utility Data Obscures Customer Water Debt Problems

October 12, 2020

Inadequate data hampers understanding of who is most affected by overdue water bills.

Utilities Ordered To Forgive Customer Water Debt

August 12, 2020

Three cities are promoting the idea of water debt forgiveness.

Millions of Americans Are In Water Debt

August 4, 2020

Most Americans give little thought to water bills, paying them on time and in full. But for a subset of homeowners and renters, water debt is constant and menacing.

Households Still Have Not Received Aid from New Federal Water Bill Assistance Program

November 10, 2021

Feds Release First Slice of Water Bill Assistance Funds

June 9, 2021

Federal Aid for Overdue Water Bills Is Slow to Arrive

April 28, 2021

Congress on Track to Approve Millions More in Federal Funding for Water Debt Relief

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February 25, 2021

California Households Owe $1 Billion in Water-Bill Debt

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January 19, 2021

California Water Board Collects Data on Household Water Debt, Utility Finances

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November 10, 2020

Michigan Allocates $20 Million to Relieve Customer Water Debts

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October 14, 2020

As Pandemic Amplifies Financial Stress for Water Utilities and Customers, North Carolina Governor Announces Financial Aid

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September 2, 2020

North Carolina, In Early Stages of Financial Review, Sees Potentially Large Number of Distressed Water Systems

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June 25, 2020

North Carolina Panel Approves Bailout for Indebted Sewer System

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February 13, 2020

In Louisiana, Officials Pursue Fixes for Indebted, Failing Water Systems

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December 12, 2019

Leaky Sewers Plunge Small North Carolina Towns into Financial Crisis

October 17, 2019

Aging Sewer System Imperils North Carolina Town’s Finances

June 5, 2019

2019-11-18 Detroit Water JGanter _MG_6878-Edit-2500

Near the Russell Woods neighborhood in Detroit, Rebecca Fritz is a single mother with four children at home under the age of 13. When she moved into the empty home, the pipes were busted and water was running across the floor. Because the home had been vacant, she didn’t receive a water bill for three years. She didn’t want to notify the water department because she was broke. “I would like to be on an affordable plan. I’m willing to pay $100 a month or whatever but I’m on welfare, and there’s no way that I can afford to keep going on a vicious circle.” © J. Carl Ganter/CircleofBlue.org

Anti-poverty organizer Rosazlia Grillier stands on South Elizabeth street in Englewood where there are boarded up residences, Wednesday, July 15, 2020. Grillier says that expenses such as water bills all add up for people struggling to make ends meet, especially during the pandemic. The city’s new Chicago Utility Billing Relief (UBR) Program will help to alleviate some of the crushing financial challenges that residents face. © Alex Garcia/CircleofBlue.org

2019-11-18 Detroit Water JGanter _MG_6728-2500 (1)

Three major U.S. cities — Baltimore, Chicago, and Philadelphia — have implemented or are developing programs to help low-income residents eliminate their water debt. Photo © J. Carl Ganter / Circle of Blue

Contractors for Houston Public Works work on a wastewater and drainage project in the Greater Eastwood neighborhood. Pipe repairs are a significant cost for water utilities and contribute to an increase in water and sewer rates. Photo © Elizabeth Conley / Circle of Blue

Much of America’s drinking water infrastructure is a result of investments made in the previous century. Jardine Water Purification Plant, which began operation in 1964, is the backbone of Chicago’s drinking water system. © Alex Garcia / CircleofBlue.org

Jardine Water Purification Plant, opened in 1964, is the backbone of Chicago’s drinking water system. The plant has the capacity to treat about one million gallons of water each minute. Photo © Alex Garcia / Circle of Blue

JardinePurification _AlexGarcia_39-Edit-2500

Filtration basins at Jardine Purification Plant catch any remaining particles before the water is sent through the distribution system. Maintaining and repairing the pipes and treatment facilities that supply drinking water is not cheap. Infrastructure costs are one reason that water rates are increasing nationwide. Photo © Alex Garcia / Circle of Blue

JardinePurification _AlexGarcia_44-Edit-2500

Inside the Jardine Water Purification Plant on Lake Michigan which processes millions of gallons of water a day. Photo © Alex Garcia / CircleofBlue.org

People stand on a bridge over the Buffalo Bayou as they watch the Houston skyline as the sun sets on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020. © Elizabeth Conley /CircleofBlue.org

Water

Debt

Circle of Blue Investigates

Featured Stories

Chart: Customer Water Debt Data in 12 U.S. Cities

Lack of Utility Data Obscures Customer Water Debt Problems

Utilities Ordered To Forgive Customer Water Debt

Millions of Americans Are In Water Debt

Related Reporting

Households Still Have Not Received Aid from New Federal Water Bill Assistance Program

Feds Release First Slice of Water Bill Assistance Funds

Federal Aid for Overdue Water Bills Is Slow to Arrive

Congress on Track to Approve Millions More in Federal Funding for Water Debt Relief

California Households Owe $1 Billion in Water-Bill Debt

California Water Board Collects Data on Household Water Debt, Utility Finances

Michigan Allocates $20 Million to Relieve Customer Water Debts

As Pandemic Amplifies Financial Stress for Water Utilities and Customers, North Carolina Governor Announces Financial Aid

North Carolina, In Early Stages of Financial Review, Sees Potentially Large Number of Distressed Water Systems

North Carolina Panel Approves Bailout for Indebted Sewer System

In Louisiana, Officials Pursue Fixes for Indebted, Failing Water Systems

Leaky Sewers Plunge Small North Carolina Towns into Financial Crisis

Aging Sewer System Imperils North Carolina Town’s Finances