Detroit Extends Water Shutoff Moratorium Through 2022

DETROIT, MI — Detroit wants to permanently end water service interruptions and the city on Tuesday took a step toward doing that by announcing it was going to extend a moratorium on water shutoffs through at least 2022.

The moratorium on water shutoffs due to an inability to pay was first launched during the pandemic and has been funded through state, federal and philanthropic funds, Mayor Mike Duggan said.

“My goal now is stop water shutoffs to low-income Detroiters once and for all,” Duggan said. “We have secured the funding necessary to continue this effort through 2022 and we are building a coalition to make this permanent.”

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Detroit has spent $22 million in payment assistance and major plumbing repairs for several thousand residential homes since the moratorium began in March, the city said. Officials did note that 92 percent of residents pay their water bills.

Abdul El-Sayed, a former public health director in Detroit said he supports the extended moratorium and is working to identify long-term funding options. The city is also working with cities across the U.S., calling for water affordability funding.

“This is a victory for the city, it’s residents, and the advocates who’ve been leading on this effort for years," El-Sayed said. "And to achieve it, we’re going to need to align advocates with state and federal lawmakers and City leadership to find the funds. All of us against water shutoffs.”

Thousands Have Water Turned Back On In Detroit

Since March 9, water service has been restored at 1,300 homes in Detroit, DWSD Director Gary Brown said. Detroit has set aside sufficient state, federal, private, and local funds to continue the moratorium on water service interruptions even after the health departments orders end on Dec. 31, officials said.

By the end of December, $22 Million is expected to be spent, $15 Million of which has been for bill credits to nearly 50,000 Detroit households. DWSD has 227,000 active residential accounts, according to data provided by the city.

“The water shutoff moratoriums issued by health departments end in 23 days,” Brown said. “We have chosen to ensure that residential households that do not have the ability to pay have the resources for help and maintain service through at least 2022 while we work on permanent water affordability solutions at the state and federal levels. The infrastructure is in place through DWSD and our community partners to continue to provide compassionate and effective customer affordability programs to financially insecure Detroit households, now and through the implementation of long-term solutions.”

Detroit Looks For Permanent Funding To Prevent Future Shutoffs

The COVID-19 Water Restart Plan, the CARES Act and Michigan Senate Bill 690 provided temporary relief during the pandemic, but the next step is to work on a permanent solution for water affordability, officials said.

Duggan said he hopes Detroit will be a leader at the state level and nationally.

“The federal government currently actively prevents gas and electric shutoffs of low-income Americans through the Low Income Heating Assistance Program,” Duggan said. “But there is no comparable program for water bills. We’re going to be part of a national coalition to support the efforts of Senator Gary Peters to extend utility shutoff support for water.”

Detroit has joined a coalition of cities from around the country, including Seattle, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Alexandria, Baltimore, Louisville, Sacramento and Washington, D.C. to create a policy platform on national water affordability initiatives focusing primarily on low-income water assistance program and include plumbing repairs.