The case of water cutoffs in the City of Detroit speaks to the deep racial divides and intractable economic and social inequality in access to services within the United States.

A report sent to the United Nations (UN) from a coalition of welfare rights groups in Detroit on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation. The group called the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department's decision to shut off water for delinquent bills a “massive human rights atrocity” and appealed to the UN for funds.