Michigan Water Table
setting the table.
First convened in Lansing, in September of 2018, the Michigan Water Table represented a question posed to representatives from several of the organizations advocating for water justice: what would it take and what would it benefit for us to come together, build power, and take collective action for necessary outcomes in water policy.
Building on the work to build unity around water justice in the wake of the Flint water crisis, the Michigan Water Table began meeting frequently, with an awareness that moving toward collective action requires that we manage complex relationships in solidarity and in a spirit of community. The Michigan Water Table moves with a focus on our capacity to get organized and win key fights to benefit the people of Michigan and our precious and unparalleled water resources.
Designed to facilitate impact-driven convergence, within a broader landscape of possible water conservation work, the Michigan Water Table chose to focus its efforts on protecting and securing safe, affordable water for all, focusing on three primary areas of work: affordability, quality & safety, and infrastructure.
What we do at the Michigan Water Table
- Connect with others who seek to move
Michigan to become a national leader in clean water for all - Learn about the work of groups advocating for water affordability, remediation of contaminated soils and water, and infrastructure across Michigan
- Build relationships with water leaders from a diversity of organizations, communities, and perspectives
- Challenge our own thinking and inform
our own approaches through discussion with others who share our values for equity and justice and yet may approach their work differently than us - Receive updates on current and urgent
matters impacting Michigan’s water. - Understand what we can do to be supportive of the work of other organizations, as well as how our organizations benefit from the support
of others working on water issues in
Michigan
Movements, in current movement-building, have to be based on world-based synergies.
- Charity Mahouna Hicks
areas of focus.
Affordability
To ensure water is accessible and affordable for all, including emergency water provisions.
Quality & Safety
To protect drinking water quality and ensure healthy freshwater resources are protected from contaminants, toxins, and chemicals.
Infrastructure
To advocate for upgrades, repairs, and replacement of aging drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure. And to increase community input in decisive conversations around infrastructure and funds dedicated.
Organizations and organizers at the Michigan Water Table support and advocate for policies, programs, and funding to ensure water is accessible and affordable for all, including emergency water provisions.
Focusing on water quality and conservation, organizations and organizers at the Michigan Water Table support and advocate for programs, policy, and funding to protect drinking water quality and ensure healthy freshwater resources are protected from contaminants, toxins, and chemicals.
2024 Goals
- Introduction of a comprehensive set of water quality protection bills in the Michigan Legislature
- Provide Water Table members tangible calls to action once the bills are introduced.
- Build a shared understanding of the fact that there are PFAS-contaminated sites across the state.
➲ Great Lakes PFAS Action Network
Organizations and organizers at the Michigan Water Table focus on water infrastructure, supporting and advocating for policies, programs, and funding to upgrade, repair, and replace aging drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure.
2024 Goals
- Updated SRF definitions of overburdened/significantly overburdened communities
Educate ourselves about the SRF advocacy work already underway outside of the Water Table and how we can plug in. - Educate ourselves about the existing Great Lakes Water Authority’s and Detroit Water and Sewerage Department’s Capital Improvement Plans and projects, and how community voices have been/can be included.
- Updated SRF definitions of overburdened/significantly overburdened communities
participating organizations.
michigan water table
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