Posted on Jul 24, 2014
Is Water a "Basic Human Right" that should be "Free"?
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The Detroit area water and sewer department services the entire Metro Detroit area as well as a great number of suburban communities in Wayne, Oakalnd and Macomb Counties. It has been determined that approximately HALF of Detroit City Residents do not pay their water bills, and the City of Highland Park has admitted to not even sending out water bills any more bacause "nobody pays them anyway". Meanwhile the other communities ARE paying their water bills, and are now expected to pick up the slack for those who aren't. Thoughts?
Posted in these groups: 
Human Rights
Human Rights
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 48
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Shut their water off to their homes. Make a public access water point in certain locations in the city, and if they don't want to pay for water, they can go to the water point and haul it back to their house.
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Lt Col (Join to see)
So, Sgt Jennifer Mohler , who pays for the water when these people don't? Who pays to maintain the pumps, the sewage system, the treatment plants?
I will also say that food is essential to survival...should we let people pile up groceries at the local Wal-Mart and walk out without paying for it because it would be "cruel" to deny them food? At what point do we decide we should be billing people for services?
I think the city should keep billing them. And keep adding late fees. And eventually turn it over to collections. Because by not sending out water bills, what the city has taught people is that if you shirk your responsibilities long enough, then you can get out of those responsibilities entirely.
I will also say that food is essential to survival...should we let people pile up groceries at the local Wal-Mart and walk out without paying for it because it would be "cruel" to deny them food? At what point do we decide we should be billing people for services?
I think the city should keep billing them. And keep adding late fees. And eventually turn it over to collections. Because by not sending out water bills, what the city has taught people is that if you shirk your responsibilities long enough, then you can get out of those responsibilities entirely.
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SSG Gerhard S.
To be clear it wasn't actually the City of Detroit that wasn't sending out water bills, but rather a 2.9sq mile city named Highland Park, which is actually located within the city of Detroit. Their excuse was that they were spending more to send the bills out than they were getting in return, (because so many were not paying them), so they stopped sending their bills out.
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Sgt Jennifer Mohler
I see I am still able to ruffle feathers without doing anything for weeks. Maybe my b/f is right, I do influence people. Thanks for the pick me up guys, I needed it.
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SPC Charles Griffith
SSG Seidel Whether it is the City of Detroit or the City of Highland Park the message doesn't change.Please see Capt.Williams post for the solution.
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Let’s be clear about the distinction between water and the infrastructure required to get it to your tap. Water is free. Anyone is welcome to go down to the river and fill their buckets. It’s the infrastructure of moving, filtering, and treating it that costs money, just like any other city-supplied service.
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PO2 Troy Boyle
But the water was made undrinkable in its natural state by human industry. THEY fouled the water, then force you to pay to receive it clean.
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PO2 Troy Boyle
You apparently don't understand the term "human industry" in a larger context. I'm not only referring to "businesses" but all human activity, including sewage. What do you think humans have been drinking for a million years of our evolution? Native lake, stream and river water. The point is, restricting water to those who can pay for it is oligarchical. I suppose the next step would be to poison the air until it is unbreathable, then force people to pay for clean air.
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To answer your question.... Yes it should be free.
The filtration and sterilization costs money though, and that should not be free.
People who choose not to pay their bills should get water piped straight from a river or stream (unfiltered/untreated) and see how long it takes them to start paying their water bill for decent water again.
Some people's priorities in life really make me question how much longer the human race will make it.
The filtration and sterilization costs money though, and that should not be free.
People who choose not to pay their bills should get water piped straight from a river or stream (unfiltered/untreated) and see how long it takes them to start paying their water bill for decent water again.
Some people's priorities in life really make me question how much longer the human race will make it.
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MSG Wade Huffman
Not to mention the price of maintaining the distribution network directly to their homes. Infrastructure is HUGE overhead.
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TSgt Scott Hurley
Unless you have an artisan well. Then the water is free. Your just paying for the electricity that comes to your home that also powers the pump to pump the water up.
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CMDCM Gene Treants
SPC Jeff Daley, PhD i do wish I still had a hand pump, or even a bucket on a rope when the power goes out. My sister-in-law still has a working spring house on her property.
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