“A Victory for the people of Illinois:
Thank you for standing up to support public water over and over again over the past several months. Because of you, we are celebrating a huge victory!
Food & Water Watch and our activists have been working to pass SB 83, a bill enabling Illinois communities to take back their water systems from self-interested corporations.Governor Quinn heard thousands of you express support for the bill through emails, phone calls and letters. At the end of August, he signed the bill into law! Please thank our Governor for standing up for public water.
Illinois communities have gained a hard-won protection against water privatization. This legislation sets a precedent, allowing some communities to be a better judge of their water service — giving them the ability to take back their drinking water and sewers if they experience expensive water rates for poor service.
This bill is especially important in communities like Bolingbrook and Homer Glen that have been trying to buy back their water system for years, but the private water utility that owned the system insisted it was not for sale. These communities will finally be able to buy back their water system, aiming for a publicly-owned and-operated system that can focus exclusively on delivering safe, clean water at affordable rates. Thank Governor Quinn for championing Illinois citizens’ water rights.
This is a important victory. Water is our most essential resource and we need to make sure it stays in public hands. Please thank Governor Quinn for standing with us on this bill—and ask him to stand up for public water in the future:
Thanks for taking action”