Moratorium on Water Shutoffs Must Be Part of Gov. Wolf’s Next Executive Order

Harrisburg, PA -- With Pennsylvania’s current stay-at-home order set to expire tomorrow, Food & Water Action is calling on Governor Wolf to include new protective measures in his next executive order , including a statewide moratorium on water shutoffs. 

Governors in 15 other states have already issued moratoria to assure communities have access to water in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The current Public Utilities Commission shutoff moratorium only applies to large privately-owned utilities, and excludes municipal utilities and smaller private companies. 

In response, Megan McDonough, Pennsylvania Organizing Manager for Food & Water Action, has issued the following statement: 

“As the current stay-at-home order expires and Governor Wolf is tasked with issuing a new one, he must include provisions protecting all Pennsylvanians from losing access to their water. With many of us confined to our homes and financial stress increasing as unemployment mounts, we need guaranteed access to running water, as handwashing is the first line of defense against the spread of the virus.

“In this moment of crisis, no family should be having to make the choice between groceries and water. The only way to ensure we are all protected is for Governor Wolf to include a shutoff moratorium in his next executive order. We are calling on him to ban shutoffs for nonpayment, restore water to those who don’t currently have it, and waive late fees on water bills for the duration of the crisis.”