River Network envisions a future where everyone can afford to pay for the clean, safe, and reliable water coming out of their taps, where no one’s water is shutoff because of their inability to pay, where communities have adequate resources for water infrastructure maintenance, and where drinking water contaminants do not threaten public health. 

We created this resource so that community groups and utility leaders can feel equipped with the knowledge, capacity, and confidence to advocate and implement best practices to reduce or eliminate the use of water shutoffs. 

Keep the Water Flowing: Best Practices for Avoiding Water Shutoffs includes:

• Background information on the problem of water affordability concerns,
• How the practice of water shutoffs harms households and communities,
• Highlights three case studies of water utilities and community groups tackling affordability issues with empathetic and innovative programs and policies,
• Lays out ten tangible ways we can reduce the use of water shutoffs at the local level, and
• Includes state and federal policy examples and recommendations to tackle water shutoffs and affordability crises.  

We’re excited to offer this resource in two formats! The StoryMap version is more interactive, relies on visuals, and aims to break the information down into digestible sections. The standard PDF version is great for sharing.

Scroll below to view the StoryMap, or click the button for a full screen experience.