The Detroit City Council could adopt a resolution soon asking Governor Gretchen Whitmer to declare water shutoffs a public health emergency.
The council’s anticipated action was reported by The Detroit News. Civil rights groups have also been calling for a moratorium. They say water is a human right, and shutoffs force people to use unsanitary measures to get water into their homes.
Tiffany Brown is the governor’s press secretary. She says the administration will wait and see what, if anything, is adopted by the council.
“At this point, we do not want to speculate on a resolution that we have not yet received. If and when we do receive the resolution, we will review it at that time.”
A similar request from the ACLU and other groups was denied last September by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.