Watch CBS News

Canada To The Rescue? Will Imported Water Embarrass City Of Detroit Into Stopping Shutoffs?

WINDSOR (WWJ) - To protest thousands of residential service shutoffs by Detroit's water department, a group from Windsor is planning to bring about 250 gallons of water across the border.

The Windsor chapter of the Council of Canadians says the water will be carried in a convoy Thursday through the Detroit-Windsor tunnel to a rally outside Detroit City Hall around 4 p.m.

Organizer Randy Emerson says it's a symbolic move, but one he hopes can pay dividends.

"We decided that we should bring water over to them and that way kind of embarrass the city and the state," he said, "so that maybe they would stop shutting off the water for these people because water is a right."

Emerson says at least a dozen vehicles will bring fifty, five- gallon jugs of water.

"The fact that the Canadians have to come over to help out Americans," he noted, "that should embarrass the federal government, or the state government or the city of Detroit to either help out or stop these water shutoffs."

His only fear is that they'll have trouble getting through customs.

But as Emerson says, it's only water.

Nearly Half Of Detroit Water Customers Can't Pay Their Bill

Majority Of Delinquent Detroit Water Customers In Culture Of: 'You're Not Making Me Pay,' Says Deputy Director

Actor Mark Ruffalo Protests Water Shutoffs In Detroit: 'It's An Absolute Travesty'

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.