UN To Investigate Water Shutoffs

After suggesting that Detroit's frenzy of water shutoffs constitute a human rights violation, United Nations advisers are increasing their involvement in this issue by planning a visit to the Motor City. 

"A pair of United Nations human rights experts plans to visit Detroit [in October] to study water disconnections and make recommendations,"Michigan Live reported. 

The visitors include Leilani Farha, the UN special papporteur on adequate housing, and Catarina de Albuquerque, the UN special rapporteur on the right to safe drinking water and sanitation. The experts described their plan in a statement published on a UN website. 

“Issues of affordability, non-discrimination and access to justice for affected groups are vital,” they said. “A response by local and federal authorities to the water shut-offs which is aligned with international human rights standards is crucial and would serve as inspiration to other cities around the world that are faced with similar challenges.”

Detroit officials sparked protests this year by shutting off water service for thousands of delinquent customers, a move that prompted about whether shutoffs violate human rights. "The city, which continues to close as many as 400 accounts a day, has been widely criticized for its actions," CBS News reported. 

Protesters hit a wall last month when they tried to get the courts to intervene in the policy fight. 

"Saying there is no such thing as a legal right to clean running water, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes dismissed a request from Detroit residents to impose a six-month moratorium on water shutoffs by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD)," Think Progress reported. 

de Albuquerque, one of the United Nations experts, previously shared her views on this issue in a press release.

“Disconnections due to non-payment are only permissible if it can be shown that the resident is able to pay but is not paying. In other words, when there is genuine inability to pay, human rights simply forbids disconnections,” she said.

For more on policy and politics, check out Water Online's Regulations & Legislation Solution Center.