City’s water shutoffs leave many households without service

Fewer than half of the property owners who received water shutoff notices in April paid their bills.

Fewer than half of the property owners who received water shutoff notices in April paid their bills.

 
By Charles Sercombe
Out of the 711 water shutoff notices the city sent out in April, less than half of the households and businesses have made a payment.
According to the city, 332 water customers paid their bill or agreed to go on a payment plan.
Most of the customers paid the bare minimum to avoid a shutoff.
At the time the shutoff notices were mailed out, the city said $1.2 million was owed and that 30 percent of its water customers were behind in their bills.
Despite facing the threat of a shutoff, some 292 customers ignored the warning and had their service turned off. Amazingly, only 96 customers had their service restored – and out of that some of the service was illegally turned back on, the city said.
Another round of shutoffs has already begun, affecting 99 customers. The city is targeting those who owe at least $250.
So how much did this crackdown bring in, revenue-wise? A consultant to the Water Department, Rodney Johnson, said in his report to our inquiry about the water shutoffs:
“I was unable to breakdown the collections from shutoff customers versus customers paying their regular bills,” Johnson said. “The Treasury or Finance team might be able to assist with a report?”
City Manager Katrina Powell said no matter how much was collected, it was more than before.
“Given that consistent monthly shut-offs haven’t happened in quite some time, if ever, the payments received for past due amounts, are more than we’ve collected previously, according to staff,” Powell said in an email.
We asked Powell if it is legal to occupy a dwelling without water service. In the past it was generally believed that it is considered unsanitary to remain in a house without water service.
The Review also inquired whether the city would force residents out of dwellings without water service and place a notice warning not to occupy it.
Powell declined to talk on the record about that matter.
She did say the city has no choice but to continue the water shutoffs.
“The city will continue to actively pursue those who owe the City money for services we’ve already provided to the customer, as we’ve already paid the City of Detroit for the water and sewerage service and now need to be reimbursed for costs associated with providing that service,” Powell said.
“Unfortunately, treated water is not free.”

 

2 Responses to City’s water shutoffs leave many households without service

  1. moh

    May 22, 2015 at 11:46 pm

    it might not bring in more money for that the shutoff cost to be done,…. but it will teach those people who had the water supply shut down to pay the bill monthly ….

    we’ll see the good results in the coming months ….

  2. Carrie Beth

    May 27, 2015 at 2:57 pm

    Unfortunately, it is perfectly legal, and shockingly common for households not to have water service. 1.2 percent of Wayne County homes still lack plumbing, much less water service.

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