Salem, NJ – Residents are demanding that the Salem Council and Mayor Jody Veler immediately cease all water shutoffs during the heat of summer. This month, the city began shutting off water service over unaffordable bills, after sending out shutoff notices to households in the city. 

There were 263 households on the shutoff list, with 18 homes currently without water, according to an August 16 response from Salem to an OPRA request by a city resident. This amounts to 14 percent of the city’s 1,815 water customers. Salem is New Jersey’s poorest town, with a median household income of $26,667, which is less than a third of the statewide median. 

Salem’s mass shutoff campaign is in stark contrast to many cities that have put in place shutoff protections in recent years. Earlier this summer, for example, Philadelphia announced additional water shutoff protections for vulnerable households, barring water shutoffs to homes with seniors, children and people with disabilities. 

 “The city’s ill-advised course of action led to the shutdown of water services for numerous residents,” said Salem City resident and activist Janice Roots. “Shockingly, 57 percent of the  accounts listed for shut-offs belonged to landlords, while 24 percent were homeowner/occupied accounts and 5 percent were business/non-residential accounts. Distressing accounts have emerged from desperate city residents who are now grappling with the devastating consequences of water shut-offs. The questionable enforcement actions not only go against the essence of the City Charter established in 1858 but also disregard the spirit of compassionate governance. The concept of using vulnerable tenants as ‘ransom payments’ contradicts the principles of justice and fairness.”

Roots added: “In sum, the recent actions by the City of Salem represent a disheartening display of unstable governance, marked by incompetency and insensitivity. As residents continue to grapple with the repercussions of the water shut-offs, questions remain about the city’s commitment to its most vulnerable constituents and the need for immediate corrective measures.”

Water bills are unaffordable for most of the city. The city’s water system valuation report indicated that more than 70 percent of customers pay the minimum water and sewer bill of $1,190 a year, which amounts to more than 5.3 percent of median household income. That is far above the international standard of water affordability of 3 percent of household income. Salem residents have expressed frustration, alarm and confusion about the shutoffs. 

“We had our water shut off after informing the city several times that we had applied for assistance,” said a Salem resident who wishes to remain anonymous. “We were informed that an application wasn’t enough to keep our water on. Every time you try to talk to someone new you hear a different story.”

The shutoff notices indicated that the households would be charged an additional $130 in turn off and turn on fees. Households that experienced a shutoff would have to wait 24 to 48 hours for reconnection after discharging debt and paying that additional fee. The city stated that it would not offer any type of payment plans for overdue accounts. Residents report that many of the affected properties appear to be renter occupied, and the property owner is the delinquent party. 

On July 17, Salem approved an agreement to sell its water and sewer system to New Jersey American Water. In November, residents will vote to approve or reject this sale. The city’s water affordability crisis will be exacerbated by privatization. Privately owned systems charge an average of 59 percent more than local governments, and private ownership is the single biggest factor associated with higher water bills, according to a study with Cornell University researchers.  

“Salem must immediately stop water shutoffs and restore service to all affected residents,” said Food & Water Watch Senior Organizer Kate Delany. “The timing of the shutoff campaign around the approval of that privatization deal raises alarms that the shutoffs are being used to ‘clean up the books’ prior to the sale. This is outrageous. Salem officials need to be held accountable and ensure safe, affordable water for all.” 

As a more affordable alternative to privatization and service shutoffs, Salem officials should offer payment plans and low-income assistance, and apply for federal and state grants to help mitigate improvement costs. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 provided $50 billion for water and wastewater improvements, with about half of that funding dedicated for disadvantaged communities like Salem.