Research Reports

An Equitable Water Future: Opportunities for the Great Lakes Region

Related

Share

By Elizabeth Cisar, Senior Program Officer, Environment

At the Joyce Foundation, we understand that our region’s vitality depends on clean water in our lakes and streams, in our homes, and where we work. Whether you are raising a family, brewing beer, building cars, or growing soybeans, you need to know that you’ve got clean, safe water you can afford. Yet in our work, we’ve seen that in many parts of the Midwest, water systems are struggling to provide these fundamental services. Unfortunately, the stresses these struggles create often fall hardest on the shoulders of our most vulnerable people – rural communities, our elders, the very young, and low-income people, particularly low-income communities of color.

That’s why we supported, An Equitable Water Future, Opportunities for the Great Lakes Region. This report by the US Water Alliance describes how states, cities, community organizations, and water systems in our region are working to provide everyone with clean, safe, affordable water – and the challenges those efforts face.

We think this report is a first step toward identifying policies that can ensure that all of us can turn on a tap and get safe water to care for our families and to run our businesses. Just as our region has come together to advance strong policy for the Great Lakes, we have confidence in its ability to strengthen and improve our water systems, so they deliver for everyone.

Download the full report here.

Media Coverage

Watch

The U.S. Water Alliance held a congressional briefing on the report in March. For video coverage, please see below.

About The Joyce Foundation

Joyce is a nonpartisan, private foundation that invests in evidence-informed public policies and strategies to advance racial equity and economic mobility for the next generation in the Great Lakes region.

Related Content

News

Data Centers and Groundwater Usage

Data centers require a lot of electricity and water to run and keep them cool. The Joyce Foundation is exploring strategies to support informed policy about data center development to help ensure the region meets its clean energy and clean water goals.

News

Reimagining Water Infrastructure for Justice and Health Equity

Reimagining Water Infrastructure for Justice and Health Equity

News

The Case for a Lead Service Line Replacement Playbook – And Some Key Plays

When it comes to Lead and Lead Service Line (LSL) Removal, some of the “larger” utilities in the United States, including Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW), have a plethora of readily available resources.

News

Identifying information gaps to help communities navigate lead service line replacement

Identifying information gaps to help communities navigate lead service line replacement.

Policy Watch

Michigan Joins Great Lakes Region States in Committing to 100% Carbon-Free Energy

With a slate of clean energy bills recently passed and expected to be signed into law on November 28, 2023, Michigan will become a national leader in efforts to transition to a clean energy economy.

Grantee Spotlight

Fresh Energy: A Midwest Climate Advocacy Leader

Minnesota-based Fresh Energy has been a leader in climate advocacy for more than 30 years, playing a significant role in what it calls “speeding Minnesota and the Midwest’s transition to a clean energy economy.”

Grantee
Fresh Energy

In The Media

Opinion: Lake Erie is a test for Northeast Ohio and its neighbors; we can ace it

Op-ed by the Foundation's Environment Co-director Elizabeth Cisar, Stephen Love of the Cleveland Foundation, and John Mitterholzer of the George Gund Foundation.

Source
Crain's Cleveland Business

Grantee Spotlight

We the People of Detroit

We the People of Detroit is a grantee partner of Joyce’s Environment Program. Learn more about the organization here.