The Human Right to Water

Overview 🔎

Spearheading the legal side of an interdisciplinary research project on water rights, I conducted interviews with public officials, submitted public records requests, and analyzed municipal ordinances. Using this data, I published a citizen action guide on using public records requests to hold local water authorities accountable.

Research Question

How does local and state policy inhibit water affordability, and what is the impact of this on Massachusetts residents?

Goals: Add some goals or requirements that helped get this project to the finish line. • Gather data to understand water affordability in MA and across the U.S. • Dive a bit deeper, using public records requests to access real-time policies • Create a citizen action guide to help residents fight for the right to water

Results

We received a strong response to our Freedom of Information request, with data coming in from 15 municipalities.

I drafted "The Human Right to Water: A Guide to Using Freedom of Information Laws to Understand Rising Water Rates" and served as the lead author for the final version, which is published on PHRGE’s website.

I parlayed this work with the team into a research paper in which I argue that one important way to promote water rights at the municipal level is to fight against municipal codes that grant municipal officials the “discretion” to shut off residential water service for nonpayment.

Mr. Sturm’s admirable impulse was to memorialize and disseminate the lessons he had learned so that other human rights advocates could benefit from his experience.

Elizabeth Ennen Executive Director, Program on Human Rights and the Global Economy