This survey is a first-of-its-kind nationwide assessment of water shutoffs for nonpayment. Food & Water Watch contacted the two largest water systems in each state to request the number of households whose water was shut off for nonpayment in 2016. We received responses back from 73 utilities.
Top findings:
• The average water utility shut off 5 percent of households for nonpayment in 2016.
• Among responding utilities, more than half a million households lost water service for nonpayment, affecting an estimated 1.4 million people in 2016.
• An estimated 15 million people in the United States experienced a water shutoff in 2016.