Plumbing Brand Urges Moratorium on Water Shutoffs
organizations, and businesses. Today, Moen joined that silverlining, taking a public stand against the little spoken of but nonetheless serious problem of water shutoffs during the pandemic.
Joining the fight's leading figure, Food & Water Action, a part of Food & Water Watch, Moen is encouraging people to sign their name to a letter asking the U.S. Senate to, as the letter reads, "(pass) a national moratorium on water shutoffs, with service restoration for all, as part of the next coronavirus relief package, and to support the WATER Act (S.611) to ensure safe water for all."
“The spread of the coronavirus has become a health, economic and human tragedy that will only be compounded if people don’t have access to water and are unable to follow the recommended precautions,” said Mark-Hans Richer, chief marketing and innovation officer for Fortune Brands Global Plumbing Group. “As a leader in the plumbing industry, we have a great responsibility to drive awareness of this issue, educate the public and demand that our elected officials act in the best interests of our local communities and suspend water shutoffs for the millions of Americans who are currently at risk.”
Portion of household customers that experienced a water shutoff for nonpayment at the two largest water systems in each state, among responding utilities. Top 10 cities ranked by highest shutoff rate.
A first-of-its-kind survey from Food & Water Action in 2018 showed the significance of water shutoffs in the US. The report found that in a year, nearly 15 million Americans experienced a water shutoff. It's a particularly acute concern this year, as regular handwashing is one of the top CDC recommendations to avoid being infected by and further transmitting COVID-19, or germs of any kind. Some of the worst offending states in terms of water shutoffs, like Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Flroida, also happen to be among the states experiencing presisting coronavirus case increases.
Fifteen states and 664 localities have suspended water shutoffs, protecting 210 million people (64% of the U.S. population) from the growing spread of the virus, according to Food & Water Action.
