Taking away a fundamental requirement for life is cruel and unusual, and the punishment does not fit the crime.

I don't know how I feel about cutting off the water service, but "cruel and unusual" seems like a reach.

It would be cruel and unusual to deprive a prisoner of water because they have no other means of attaining it when you withhold it. Turning off city water service to a property is different. The property owner has other options they can take to get the water they need to stay alive.

In Russia the right to access clean water is enshrined in the constitution. If a vilage relies on a certain lake / river, and lost that access e.g. to pollution, the government is complelled by law to fix the issue at no expense to the residents. It is not good enough to say "they could hire a water truck".

This also strikes me as abuse of power, one must not suffer arbitrary and random punishments. Whats bext, we will start cutting internet access to everyone who swears on the street, disabling electriciry to anyone who protests?

Today it’s “public health” reasons. What other “good reasons” will they find apt tomorrow?

The lack of due process?