City Council Meeting May 24, 2023
Referred to the Committee on Finance
RESOLUTION CALLING ON THE CITY OF CHICAGO COMMITTEE ON FINANCE TO HOLD HEARINGS ON WATER BILLS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER MANAGEMENT AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago (City) Department of Water Management (DWM) oversees and works to ensure the delivery of nearly 1 billion gallons of drinking water, along with the removal of waste and stormwater throughout the City and suburbs; and
WHEREAS, As a result of these services, in coordination with DWM, the Department of Finance (DOF) generates unified utility bills, more commonly referred to as "water bills," that include water and sewer charges, garbage fees, and water-sewer taxes; and
WHEREAS, In 2022, Elevate and the Metropolitan Planning Council, two nonprofits focused on sustainable and equitable development, published the "City of Chicago Water Affordability Analysis," revealing that lower-income neighborhoods and communities of color faced a disproportionate impact from these water bills, even when using less water or new technology, such as water meters; and
WHEREAS, CBS2 and other media outlets have shared concerning and shocking reports revealing unreasonable and inexplicable water bills for residents who have no plumbing issues or excessive water use, leaving many in distress and at the mercy of debt collectors; and
WHEREAS, In July 2022, the City Council passed 02022-2050, an ordinance intended to promote and ensure Chicago residents' fundamental rights to affordable and accessible water; and
WHEREAS, The ordinance included three major components: 1) prohibiting the future privatization of Chicago's water system; 2) codifying the end of residential water shut-offs due to non-payment; and 3) increasing transparency requirements; and
WHEREAS, Unclear billing practices and a lack of adequate technology and data sharing between the DWM and the DOF continue to result in confusion, angst, and financial hardship, necessit...
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