This week, Mayor Adams announced plans to shut off water beginning April 4, if delinquent water bills are not paid by then. While the mayor indicated that the bulk of the 2,400 water shutoff notices were sent to commercial properties, the City will also shut off water to one-to-three family homes with water debt. The residential water shutoffs would be the first in New York City in at least 15 years. New York City has not shut off water service to any household because of unpaid bills since 2009. 

Food & Water Watch Senior New York Organizer Eric Weltman issued the following statement:

“Water is not a bargaining chip to dangle in front of families struggling to pay their bills. New York City has had a de facto ban on household water shutoffs for 15 years, helping families keep their homes and protecting access to clean water, no matter the ability to pay. Mayor Adams’ latest move is a significant departure from this policy and a dangerous one. No New Yorker should lose access to water.”