Baltimore and Affordable Water Advocacy

Last month Baltimore City Council passed the Water Affordability and Equity Act.  Baltimore residents experienced sharply rising water.  The rising cost attributed to the City's infrastructure work geared at ensuring clean water.  Both owners and tenants were affected by the high cost of water.  Low-income tenants were particularly hard-hit when the terms of their tenancy made them responsible for water costs.  Particularly troubling were evictions caused by non-payment of the water bills yet tenants were unable to dispute excessive bills because the bills were in the landlord's name.  

The act provides four specific forms o relief for tenants.  Tenants will have direct access to past and present water bills; lease must state specifically if tenants are responsible for payment of water or sewer costs; renters will have access to a Water For All Discount Program; a new Water Advocacy and Appeals has been established as a dispute resolution pathway for tenants to resolve water payment disputes and obtain protection from eviction.

The human right to water has been a frequent topic on this blog.  Recently Martha Davis wrote a post on the  US reluctance to agree that the water is a fundamental human right.  Also referenced is the report Closing the Water Gap.  The report addresses advocacy efforts in California.  For those working on affordable and clean water the California and Baltimore experiences may provide some guidance.