Overview
A game to manage group budgets during the water crisis in Detroit, while keeping up with monthly water bills
Location: Detroit
Purpose
In the Water Drop Game, players were divided into four groups: Detroit–Upper, Detroit–Middle, Suburbs–Middle, and Suburbs–Lower. Each group was assigned roles of Reader, Recorder, Reporter, and Accountant, and then received starting money. The goal of the game was to manage the group’s budget while keeping up with monthly water bills.
The Facilitator assigned different scenarios to each group, who then completed a budget worksheet based on the information assigned.
Each round represented one month: the Reader announced the scenario and bill, the team discussed how to respond, the Accountant tracked money spent and remaining, the Recorder wrote down the group’s decisions and questions, and the Reporter shared the outcome with everyone. Budgets were adjusted based on the round’s results, and play continued month by month. At the end, all groups compared their outcomes and reflected on what choices or circumstances helped or hurt them along the way.