By Ashley Edwards

This summer’s heat has drawn attention to the essential role that water plays in our lives. Access and quality of water is an environmental and social determinant of health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) “hundreds of millions of people have no access to soap and water to wash their hands, preventing a basic act that would empower them to block the spread of disease.” One would think that WHO is concerned about people in developing nations. However, many in the City of Detroit face that dilemma.

That is why the Population Health Council has consistently advocated on behalf of a water affordability policy based on the citizen’s ability to pay. This summer, the Council renewed this commitment by creating a statement urging the City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department to make exceptions to water shutoffs for vulnerable populations. Vulnerable populations included are:

• Infants and children under the age of 18
• Seniors age 62 and above
• Persons with mental illness
• Persons with disabilities
• Expectant and/or breastfeeding mothers
• Persons dealing with chronic disease or otherwise in need of critical and/ or medical care

In addition the Council recommended a health impact assessment be conducted for the vulnerable populations, and that the public health exceptions to water shutoffs statement be widely distributed.

For more information about the statement or the Council,please visit authorityhealth.org. or connect with Authority Health on social media at Facebook.

Ashley Edwards is the 2016-17 W.K. Kellogg Population Health Fellow.