Oakland County Water Resources has been “boots on the ground” and in the forefront of the water affordability fight for more affordable water for not just Oakland County but for residents statewide. It all begins with empathy and focuses on equity. Countless hours were spent in the community connecting with residents to learn what their needs and concerns are.

Out of that process is what became our Water Affordability Coalition launched by Commissioner Jim Nash. This coalition, originally formed with water and sewer customers, community leaders, local elected officials, and many more from the City of Pontiac and the Charter Township of Royal Oak, holds virtual meetings on a quarterly basis to discuss a variety of topics related to water affordability.

For two years, with the help of a grant from the state, the coalition members have been working together to understand and evaluate the costs and challenges of providing safe drinking water and reliable sanitary sewer services in their communities, while developing solutions to improve the level of service and help make those costs more affordable. We have now opened our coalition meetings to all leadership within Oakland County, including local elected officials, managers and supervisors, and public works directors, with the goal of creating synergy as we continue to fight for a statewide water affordability program. Oakland County Water Resources is locked in for the fight to have Michigan become the first state in the country to have a statewide water affordability program. If you are interested in joining the coalition, email affordability@oakgov.com. To learn more about our efforts, visit oakgov.com/affordability.

Written by Water Affordability Coordinator Demar Byas.

The Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office is dedicated to protecting public health and safety, preserving natural resources and a healthy environment, maintaining reliable, high-quality service, ensuring the value of investment and contributing to economic prosperity. To learn more about the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash’s Office and his work, follow along with them on Facebook and LinkedIn.

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