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Baltimore's residents lose access to water for not paying bill

Tuesday, 07 April 2015 5:31 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 07 April 2015 5:30 AM ]

BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 22: John Rose tries to cool off while selling water to passing motorists on a street corner on July 22, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. A large heatwave has been crossing the United States and is causing extreme summer temperatures. Rob Carr/Getty Images/AFP== FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Susan Modaress
Press TV, New York

With little notice and no public hearings more than 25,000 households in Baltimore, Maryland will suddenly lose their access to water for owing bills of $250 or more starting this week.The majority of these households are occupied by low income or very poor residents.

City officials blame residents for using water and not paying, causing $40 million in overdue water bills. However, the Baltimore Sun found more than a third of the unpaid bills come from only about 370 businesses as well as government offices and nonprofits. Critics of the shutdown say the city should target businesses before cracking down of low income residents.

Last year in Detroit, Michigan, residents had their water shut off and the United Nations had to step in and condemned the city, taking the side of residents. A UN statement read “Disconnection of water services because of failure to pay due to lack of means constitutes a violation of the human right to water and other international human rights".

Residents and advocates are calling for the city to put a moratorium on all water shutoffs until those served with notices have a chance to share their side of the story. The city has yet to respond.

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