White House Pressured To Intervene On Forthcoming Drinking Water Shutoffs As the novel coronavirus pandemic impacted Americans’ ability to earn income and pay for fundamental services, drinking water utilities around the country have waived fees or suspended shutoffs for those households that haven’t been able to pay their bills. But with shutoffs looming again in many states, some have asked for federal intervention to help consumers maintain access to drinking water. “Utility protections enacted in the early months of the pandemic are slated to expire in some states — including Hawaii, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont — over the next few weeks,”