Which states and cities protect residents from water shutoffs in the COVID-19 pandemic?

Mildred E Warner; Xue Zhang; Marcela González Rivas

doi:10.1016/j.jup.2020.101118

Which states and cities protect residents from water shutoffs in the COVID-19 pandemic?

Util Policy. 2020 Dec:67:101118. doi: 10.1016/j.jup.2020.101118. Epub 2020 Sep 21.

Authors

Mildred E Warner¹, Xue Zhang¹, Marcela González Rivas²

Affiliations

¹ Cornell University, Department of City and Regional Planning, Ithaca, NY, USA.
² University of Pittsburg, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Abstract

Many U.S. states and cities have imposed water disconnection moratoriums during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using logistic and Cox Proportional-Hazards models, we assess factors that differentiate which governments imposed moratoriums. States, which have economic regulation of private water utilities, were more likely to impose moratoriums, and those with higher COVID-19 case rates imposed moratoriums earlier. States with unified Republican Control and cities with more 2016 Trump voters were less likely to impose moratoriums on water disconnection. Cities in states without statewide moratoriums, were more likely to impose moratoriums if they had higher income, more minority residents, and more income inequality.

Keywords: COVID-19; US states And cities; Water disconnection moratorium.