The Detroit Water Brigade has released a new video about the situation in Detroit.
The Detroit Water and Sewage Department is conducting mass water shut offs in Detroit Michigan which will affect over 120,000 account holders over a 3 month period (June-September 2014) at a rate of 3,000 per week. This accounts for over 40% of customers who are using the Detroit Water system and has been dubbed a violation of Human Rights by various organizations. 70,000 of those accounts are residential accounts which could amount to anywhere from 200,000-300,000 people directly affected.
Justin Wedes is an activist with Detroit Water Brigade. He was a key organizer in the work at St Luke’s and St Matthew’s Episcopal Church around Hurricane Sandy.
Some of the projects to help those without water:
Drinkable Water
Over the next 18 months we’re stockpiling water by the bottle and by the gallon at our Detroit office and empowering local non-profits to do the same, in order to combat dehydration.
Rain Water Collection
We’re stockpiling affordable rainwater collection systems in order to provide potable water, and water for sanitary use, in order to combat discomfort and the potential for disease.
Cold Weather Gear
With lack of running water comes a lack of circulating heat, so we’re loading up on cold weather gear to distribute to residents during the cold weather months.
More about what is being done here.
What is your church doing? According to the Water Brigade web site Church of the Messiah is a distribution point in the network.