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 The bankrupt city's water authority attracted unwanted
international attention earlier this summer when it launched an
aggressive effort to cut service to customers who were months behind
or owed thousands of dollars.
The campaign, intended to deal with a $90 million backlog in unpaid
bills, prompted accusations that it was unfair to the poor.
During the moratorium, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department was
returned to city control after nearly a year of oversight under the
state-appointed emergency financial manager.
The city then implemented an additional payment plan that allowed
customers to pay at least 10 percent of a delinquent bill and spread
the remaining balance over two years. More than 25,000 customers are
enrolled in at least one of the authority's payment plans, up from
17,000 when the moratorium began, the water department said in a
statement.
"The goal of the shutoff moratorium was always to give as many city
residents as possible a chance to get current with their water
bill," Mayor Mike Duggan said in a statement.
A city "water fair" on Saturday to help people avoid shutoffs by
enrolling in a payment plan drew more than 1,300 people, according
to the department.
Water department spokesman Gregory Eno told Reuters he did not have
an estimate on how many water customers are at risk of shutoff.
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Outside initiatives also have aided needy customers, including a
website that allows anonymous donors to pay past-due bills. One of
the site's creators tweeted that the campaign has raised more than
$100,000 so far.
The department shut off water to 7,210 customers for non-payment in
June, and restored service for 3,118 customers, according to a July
compliance report. The department also found 205 illegal water
hook-ups.
(Reporting by Aaron Foley; Editing by Mary Wisniewski, Mohammad
Zargham and Eric Walsh)
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