By: Emma Denison, Communications and Student Engagement Manager • The Water Center at Penn
The Water Center at Penn, together with our partners the Mayors Innovation Project, the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC), and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), is working to shine a critical spotlight on local leaders advancing water affordability. By collaborating with city officials, advocates, and utilities, we are supporting practical solutions to ensure all households have access to safe, affordable water.
Over the past several months, we have co-hosted two timely discussions that showcase how communities are breaking down barriers and building new models to make water more affordable:
Using Data to Deliver Water Affordability: How Cities Are Automatically Enrolling Eligible Residents
On June 24, 2025, the Water Center, NRDC, NCLC, and the Mayors Innovation Project co-hosted a webinar highlighting how cities are making water affordability programs more accessible by reducing barriers to enrollment.
Speakers shared case studies from NRDC and NCLC’s new report, Turn On the Tap: Increasing Participation in Water Affordability Programs Through Data Sharing, including:
- Philadelphia, PA – Susan Crosby (Philadelphia Water Revenue Bureau) and Cassandra (Casey) Henderson (Philadelphia’s Office of Integrated Data for Evidence and Action) described how the city leverages cross-agency data-sharing agreements to automatically enroll eligible households in its Tiered Assistance Program (TAP), while proactively identifying vulnerable households such as renters and seniors.
- Westminster, CO – Heather Sackett (City of Westminster) detailed how the city collaborates with the state’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to identify eligible customers through a straightforward but effective data match process.
The discussion, moderated by Brianne Callahan of the Water Center, also featured insights from Larry Levine (NRDC) and Olivia Wein (NCLC), who emphasized how reducing paperwork, improving data sharing, and cross-agency collaboration can expand access to critical affordability programs.
Watch the full recording here.
From Crisis to Collaboration: Michigan’s Journey Toward Water Justice
On May 12, 2025, the Water Center brought together state leaders, utilities, and advocates for a powerful conversation about Michigan’s effort to create the nation’s first comprehensive statewide water affordability program.
At the heart of this bold legislative package, as explained by Senator Stephanie Chang (MI), is a simple principle: cap household water bills at no more than 3 percent of income, with a modest service connection fee sustainably funding the program.
Sylvia Orduño (People’s Water Board Coalition), Cyndi Roper (NRDC), and Sara Rubino (Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office) discussed how this collaborative movement grew from early COVID-era relief efforts, including a statewide shutoff moratorium and $25 million in emergency water assistance, into a long-term policy proposal with the potential to set a national precedent.
Moderated by Ellen Kohler of the Water Center at UPenn, the discussion also connected Michigan’s affordability legislation to broader water infrastructure funding strategies, offering valuable lessons for other states pursuing similar policy innovation.
Watch the full recording here.
Why These Conversations Matter
Together, these webinars highlight both local innovation in cities like Philadelphia and Westminster who are making affordability programs more accessible through data-driven enrollment, and statewide leadership, as Michigan pursues a first-of-its-kind legislative model to guarantee water affordability for all.
As the water affordability crisis continues to grow, these examples demonstrate that solutions are within reach when cities, states, and advocates work together to break down barriers and reimagine policy.