AWN Day of Action | WEL Coalition

Why We’re Taking Action

More than 300,000 Michigan families face challenges affording their water bills, while tens of thousands of households have been turned away from assistance programs that simply do not have enough resources to meet the need.

Temporary assistance is not enough. Michigan families need affordability—a long-term solution that ensures water bills are manageable based on household income and that no one loses access to water simply because they cannot afford it.

The Affordable Water Now legislative package would move Michigan toward that solution by creating a statewide water affordability program that:

Caps water bills for eligible households based on income.
Protects households from water shutoffs due to an inability to pay.
Provides a pathway for addressing water debt.
Ensures renters and other vulnerable households can benefit from affordability protections.

Costs to improve our water system have been passed to Michigan families, resulting in a nearly 40% increase in water bills since 2010.

Water is a basic human need.
It’s time for Michigan to treat it like one.

Across Michigan, families are struggling to keep up with rising water bills. Too many households are forced to make impossible choices between paying for water and paying for groceries, housing, medicine, childcare, and other basic needs.

We have an opportunity to change that.

On September 23, advocates, community members, organizations, and water affordability champions from across Michigan will come together at the State Capitol for the Affordable Water Now Day of Action.

We’re heading to Lansing with one clear message: Michigan needs a permanent, statewide solution to water affordability.

Your Voice Matters

Policy decisions are about people, and lawmakers need to hear directly from the people and communities those decisions affect.

Whether you have personally struggled with a water bill, work with families experiencing water insecurity, advocate for clean, safe, and affordable water, or just believe that every Michigan family deserves access to this basic necessity, there is a place for you in this movement.

The Affordable Water Now Day of Action is an opportunity to stand alongside people from across the state, meet with lawmakers, share why water affordability matters in your community, and demonstrate the growing support for meaningful statewide action.

You don’t have to be a policy expert to make your voice heard. You just have to believe that everyone deserves access to clean, safe, affordable water. And we’ll make sure you have the tools you need to speak up with confidence. Our Affordable Water Now Advocacy Toolkit provides helpful talking points, key messages, and resources to help you communicate your values and clearly share our asks with lawmakers. When you register for the Day of Action, you’ll also be invited to a training session designed to help you prepare for conversations with your representatives, so you can arrive in Lansing ready to advocate for affordable water for every Michigan family.

Join Us in Lansing

This is our opportunity to show lawmakers that Michigan communities are ready for action.

Bring your voice. Bring your story. Bring your organization, neighbors, friends, and community.

Together, we can make sure water affordability remains a priority, and move Michigan closer to clean, safe, affordable water in every tap. No exceptions.

September 23, 2026
Michigan State Capitol | Lansing, Michigan