The city of Detroit is cutting off the water supply to 80,000 homes with outstanding water bills. The United Nations has condemned the action. In March, the city began shutting off the supply “to homes with bills either 60 days overdue or with more than $150 outstanding.” In June, 7,210 homes had their water cut off.
National Nurses United, which claims that the shut-offs will trigger a large-scale public health disaster, is leading a march in Detroit on Friday to call for a stop to the shut-offs. Curtrise Garner, a representative for the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD), said “It’s a new way of conducting business and we’re going to continue to do it.” The Detroit Water rep added, “We will shut off every single one.”