Water for All (W4A) is a legislative proposal that emerged in 2018, when SOUL began holding community listening sessions on the South Side. Residents shared how  their water bills were increasing from around $100 a month to, in some cases, as high as $10,000. After reaching out to multiple city departments and receiving no answers or solutions, it was clear that organizing must be done around this issue.

Chicago reporters also began to write about this issue and it became evident that this is a city-wide issue though most unaffordable water bills and inaccurate billing happens on the south and west sides of the city. This led to the creation of the Water for All coalition, which now includes over 40 Chicago-based labor, environmental, medical, civil rights organizations and unions.

In order to achieve our collective goal of a more just water billing system, the Water for All ordinance was created and is currently awaiting a vote in committee and council. This ordinance will expand the city’s current water bill payment system so that more Chicagoans have access to affordable water. Every Chicagoan has the right to not lose their home and be in a system that allows for our residents to drown in debt.


To learn more or get in touch with our organziers, email info@soulinchicago.org.