New Poll: 77% of MI Republicans and 87% of Democrats Agree on Water Affordability
A new poll shows massive support across the political spectrum. Michiganders want a statewide program to help low-income families keep their water on.
LANSING, Mich. – At a time of deep partisan division, a new statewide poll has found that Michiganders from all political stripes overwhelmingly support making water affordable for every resident, as well as the implementation of a new low-income water affordability program.
The poll, conducted by EPIC-MRA and commissioned by NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), found that nearly nine in ten Michigan voters feel that no one should lose access to safe drinking water because they can't keep up with rising rates. In addition, three in four support a proposed water affordability program similar to the Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP), which would be funded by a $1.25 monthly fee on everyone’s water bills.
The support crosses party lines, with the proposed program drawing the backing of 87 percent of Democrats, 82 percent of independents, and 77 percent of Republicans.
“Michiganders rarely agree this decisively, but there’s broad consensus that access to safe and affordable drinking water is a fundamental human right,” said Cyndi Roper, Senior Policy Advocate at NRDC. “Nearly nine in ten agree that no one should lose their water just because they are poor. Our leaders need to address this growing affordability crisis.”
The findings come as Michigan’s underfunded water systems are showing their age. The state’s water infrastructure has been stretched beyond its limits by years of underinvestment at the state and federal levels, leaving communities across the state contending with rising costs and mounting strain on the systems families rely on every day.
This May, a 42-inch water main in Oakland County burst, leading to water outages and boil water advisories impacting about 200,000 residents across Orion Township, Lake Orion, Rochester Hills, Pontiac, and Auburn Hills. The pipe was about 50 years old, and much of Michigan’s water infrastructure is even older.
It’s estimated that 1 in 10 Michigan households struggle with unaffordable water bills. However, there are no permanent state or federal programs for water assistance, resulting in a patchwork of local programs and temporary state funding. The result is a continuing cycle where unpaid bills leave utilities short of the revenue needed to maintain aging infrastructure, so they raise rates to compensate, driving costs higher for the households that can least afford them.
“The people of our state don't want band-aids. They want a permanent fix to this water crisis,” Roper said. “Michigan leaders from both parties have a rare chance to come together. We need statewide programs that keep water safe, reliable, and affordable for every family.”
The two poll questions were included in an EPIC-MRA statewide survey of 600 likely November 2026 voters, conducted July 24–31, 2026. Interviews were conducted by live callers and included 80 percent cell phones. The survey carries a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).