The Center for Water Security and Cooperation, in partnership with DigDeep, convened the Community Task Force for Water Equity (CTF) in April 2022 to develop recommendations for the development of a National Households Water Assistance Program (NHWAP). While the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the creation of the first-ever Federal-level assistance program for water, the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) is only a short-term, emergency program with limited funding.

Developed by experts from community-based organizations, these recommendations create a program that will protect households, build communities, and support the utilities to provide clean, safe drinking water and wastewater for all.

Task Force representatives came from a diverse group of organizations, including:

–Community Legal Services of Philadelphia

–Project BRAVO

–Community Water Center

–We the People of Detroit

–The Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans

–Martin County Concerned Citizens

–Southeast Rural Community Assistance Program

–Elevate

–Initiative for Energy Justice

–Rural Community Assistance Corporation

–Equitable Resilience & Sustainability, LLC

Following the release of the Report, several organizations signed onto the recommendations, including:

–Youth for Global Health & Social Justice

–Hijra House

–The Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans

–Friends of the Mississippi River

–Pennsylvania Council of Churches

–River Network

The Report can be accessed here.