Equity, Affordability, Social, and Environmental Justice
Theme Description
Universal access to reliable, safe, affordable, water sector service is essential to maintaining public health, economic prosperity, and wellbeing. It is in our collective national interest that everyone has sustained access to clean water and sanitation. Yet, the reality is that maintaining and operating water systems is incredibly costly. This creates a dilemma for people who cannot pay water bills and also for utilities who cannot cover costs to provide affordable water. The time is right to re-envision how we price and distribute the costs of water in a way that reflects its value as a public good. Effective tools are emerging to help utilities achieve financial stability and provide more compassionate policies and practices to ensure no residents go without critical water and sanitation services.
Our Panel Members
Theme Outcomes
Participants will hear from water sector leaders about the opportunity for a paradigm shift in equity, as well as practical insights on strategies for implementation to support low-income households.
Food for Thought!
Question # 1
Can we agree that access to safe, secure, affordable water should be a basic human right?
Question # 2
Can we agree that water is also indispensable for other societal needs that require addressing in just and equitable ways? These needs include food security, energy security, environmental and ecological health, and recreational and economic opportunities. How will Smart One Water help meet these basic human needs in just and equitable ways at scale?
Question # 3
What is the power of water? It can be taken away through diverse processes, some biophysical (e.g., climate change, sea-level rise), some sociological and political? How can Smart One Water help with these issues?