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Water's True Cost

As the nation prepares to pour hundreds of billions of federal dollars into rescuing water systems, the Great Lakes News Collaborative investigates the true cost of water in the Great Lakes region and beyond

Throughout the Great Lakes region and across the U.S., water systems are aging.

In some communities, this means water bills that residents can’t afford or water that’s unsafe to drink. It means that vulnerable systems are even more at risk in a changing climate. From shrinking cities and small towns to the comparatively thriving suburbs, the true cost of water has been deferred for decades. As the nation prepares to pour hundreds of billions of federal dollars into rescuing water systems, the Great Lakes News Collaborative investigates the true cost of water in the Great Lakes region and beyond.

Great Lakes Now Presents

Episode 2205: Water's True Cost

The Great Lakes News Collaborative looks at the cost of water in the region and beyond.

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Drinking WaterEvents and Special BroadcastsFeature HomepageGreat Lakes Now Events and Road/River ShowsInfrastructureLatest NewsNewsWater Quality and Restoration EffortsWater's True Costs Events
Join the Conversations: Events on “Water’s True Cost” will answer your questions about water infrastructure
- by GLN Editor

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BudgetCharles Stewart Mott Foundation PartnershipEquity and Environmental JusticeFeature HomepageInfrastructureLatest NewsMichiganMunicipalitiesNewsPolicyPolitics, Policy, Environmental JusticeWater Quality and Restoration EffortsWater's True Cost
Water’s True Cost
- by Circle of Blue

The quality of Michigan’s water infrastructure and the consequences of failure, while still real and apparent, are no longer being ignored.

Andrew ReevesBudgetCharles Stewart Mott Foundation PartnershipDrinking WaterFeature HomepageInfrastructureLatest NewsNewsOntarioPolitics, Policy, Environmental JusticeThe ProvincesTribal Governments and First NationsU.S. and Canadian Federal GovernmentsWater Quality and Restoration EffortsWater's True Cost
Ontario faces uneven investment in water infrastructure
- by Andrew Reeves

While much-needed money is being directed to aging drinking water infrastructure, stormwater and sewer systems have been neglected.

Andrew ReevesBudgetCharles Stewart Mott Foundation PartnershipDrinking WaterEquity and Environmental JusticeFeature HomepageInfrastructureLake ErieLake OntarioLake St. ClairLake SuperiorLatest NewsNewsOntarioPolicyPolitics, Policy, Environmental JusticeScience, Technology, ResearchThe ProvincesTorontoU.S. and Canadian Federal GovernmentsWater Quality and Restoration EffortsWater's True Cost
Even in Canada, where water prices are low, aging infrastructure and rising costs are a problem
- by Andrew Reeves

Water, while still overall affordable in Canada compared to other countries, is growing more expensive as the cost of neglecting infrastructure for decades comes due.

Charles Stewart Mott Foundation PartnershipDrinking WaterFeature HomepageInfrastructureLatest NewsMichiganMunicipalitiesNatasha BlakelyNewsPFASPolicyPolitics, Policy, Environmental JusticeThe StatesU.S. and Canadian Federal GovernmentsWater Quality and Restoration EffortsWater's True Cost
Five fixes for Michigan’s drinking water woes
- by Great Lakes Now, Michigan Radio, Bridge Michigan, and Circle of Blue

The Great Lakes News Collaborative asked state and national experts how Michigan could break the cycle of underfunding and poor decision-making that has left water systems across Michigan in sorry shape.

BudgetCharles Stewart Mott Foundation PartnershipDrinking WaterIndustry, Energy, Economic DevelopmentInfrastructureLatest NewsMichiganNewsPolicyPolitics, Policy, Environmental JusticeProtectU.S. and Canadian Federal GovernmentsWater Quality and Restoration EffortsWater's True Cost
Michigan’s ‘Very Big Opportunity’ in Infrastructure Windfall
- by Circle of Blue

More communities gain access to the largest federal infusion in a half century.

BudgetCharles Stewart Mott Foundation PartnershipDrinking WaterEquity and Environmental JusticeFeature HomepageIndustry, Energy, Economic DevelopmentInfrastructureLatest NewsMichiganMunicipalitiesNewsPolicyPolitics, Policy, Environmental JusticeThe StatesU.S. and Canadian Federal GovernmentsWater Quality and Restoration EffortsWater's True Cost
Some Michigan water systems are overbuilt, underfunded. Are mergers the answer?
- by Bridge Michigan

Customers get cheaper, cleaner water when communities share the cost of infrastructure. But Michigan’s experience shows how political conflicts and logistical challenges can complicate the math.

AdvocacyBudgetCharles Stewart Mott Foundation PartnershipDetroitDrinking WaterEquity and Environmental JusticeFeature DetroitFeature HomepageLatest NewsMichiganNewsPolitics, Policy, Environmental JusticeWater Quality and Restoration EffortsWater's True Cost
High Cost of Water Hits Home
- by Circle of Blue

Rising rates hurt Michigan’s poorest residents.

Charles Stewart Mott Foundation PartnershipDrinking WaterFeature HomepageIndustry, Energy, Economic DevelopmentInfrastructureLatest NewsMichiganMunicipalitiesNewsPolicyPolitics, Policy, Environmental JusticeWater Quality and Restoration EffortsWater's True Cost
Short-changing Michigan local governments has resulted in deteriorating water systems and other services
- by Michigan Public

Many of Michigan’s cities are reaching a crisis point because of a decline in federal dollars for water and sewer infrastructure made worse by the state’s centralized taxing system.

Algae BloomsCharles Stewart Mott Foundation PartnershipDrinking WaterEquity and Environmental JusticeFeature HomepageForests and PlantsGroundwater ContaminationIndustry, Energy, Economic DevelopmentInfrastructureLatest NewsMichiganMunicipalitiesNewsScience, Technology, ResearchWater Quality and Restoration EffortsWater's True Cost
Michigan’s lack of septic system regulations is causing problems for some of its most pristine lakes
- by Michigan Public

The cost of updating sewer systems in growing communities is either a hefty price tag or polluted waters.

BudgetCharles Stewart Mott Foundation PartnershipDrinking WaterEnbridge Line 5 and Other PipelinesEquity and Environmental JusticeFeature HomepageFeature LeadFlintIllinoisIndustry, Energy, Economic DevelopmentInfrastructureLatest NewsLeadMichiganMunicipalitiesNatasha BlakelyNewsPolicyPolitics, Policy, Environmental JusticeProtectThe StatesWater Quality and Restoration EffortsWater's True Cost
Michigan’s 20th Century water systems too big for its shrinking city populations
- by Natasha Blakely

Cities around the Great Lakes region struggle with the cost of water maintenance and operation as their populations decline.

BudgetCharles Stewart Mott Foundation PartnershipDrinking WaterEquity and Environmental JusticeFeature HomepageFlintInfrastructureLatest NewsLeadMichiganMunicipalitiesNewsPFASPolicyPolitics, Policy, Environmental JusticeProtectThe StatesWater Quality and Restoration EffortsWater's True Cost
Water woes loom for Michigan suburbs, towns after decades of disinvestment
- by Bridge Michigan

Michigan cities rich and poor, big and small have been delaying maintenance on their water systems for decades. Now, even wealthy towns are suffering the consequences of past reluctance to pay for water system upkeep.

AdvocacyBudgetCharles Stewart Mott Foundation PartnershipDrinking WaterEquity and Environmental JusticeFeature HomepageIndustry, Energy, Economic DevelopmentInfrastructureLatest NewsMichiganMunicipalitiesNewsPolicyPolitics, Policy, Environmental JusticeProtectThe StatesWater Quality and Restoration EffortsWater's True Cost
Many Rural Towns Have Neglected Drinking Water Systems for Decades
- by Michigan Public

Rural Michigan’s shrinking populations, growing poverty, and diminished state and federal assistance have fueled a crisis of underfunded drinking water infrastructure.

Charles Stewart Mott Foundation PartnershipDetroitDrinking WaterEquity and Environmental JusticeFeature HomepageFlintIndustry, Energy, Economic DevelopmentInfrastructureLatest NewsMichiganMunicipalitiesNewsPolicyPolitics, Policy, Environmental JusticeThe StatesWater Quality and Restoration EffortsWater's True Cost
After Decades of Neglect, Bill Coming Due for Michigan’s Water Infrastructure
- by Circle of Blue

Federal and state governments begin to reverse course on underinvestment to address water’s true cost.

Drinking WaterGreat Lakes Now Events and Road/River ShowsInfrastructureLatest NewsMichiganNewsPolitics, Policy, Environmental JusticeWater Quality and Restoration EffortsWater's True Cost
Great Lakes News Collaborative examines Water’s True Cost
- by GLN Editor

For the whole month of May, Great Lakes Now will be looking at aging water infrastructure and the rising literal cost of water as part of a series from the Great Lakes News Collaborative.

Drinking WaterEvents and Special BroadcastsFeature HomepageGreat Lakes Now Events and Road/River ShowsInfrastructureLatest NewsNewsWater Quality and Restoration EffortsWater's True Costs Events
Join the Conversations: Events on “Water’s True Cost” will answer your questions about water infrastructure
- by GLN Editor

As the Great Lakes News Collaborative prepares to publish and air stories about water’s true cost, get these free, virtual events on your calendar to learn more about your drinking water.

Events and Special BroadcastsGreat Lakes Now Events and Road/River ShowsGreat Lakes Now Watch PartiesWater's True Cost
Water’s True Cost: Episode Sneak Peek Watch Party
- by GLN Editor

Join GLN Producer Anna Sysling for a conversation with several guests who all played a part in this episode’s story about the complicated financial, public health and infrastructural implications of our drinking water.

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