The water is still on for Detroit residents behind on their bills, but not for long. Detroit Water and Sewerage announced they're shutting off service to those who owe them payments.
About 20,000 people could see their water shut off, starting May 3rd at 8 a.m.
Water department's customer service centers have been busy taking four payments a minute.
Gary Brown, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Director, explained, "We don't want to shut anyone's water off. Come in, ask for assistance, get on a payment plan."
Of the city's 175,000 residential water accounts, 44,000 have been on a payment plan.
But, less than half of those folks have fallen behind.
"If you are behind and you need to get caught up there are no qualifications. It doesn't matter how much money you make. If you need assistance we can stretch the payments out."
Saturday, hundreds of Detroiters waited in long lines at customer service centers to get on payment plans.
Brown says if anyone has any disputes they still have to contact the department, get on a payment plan and they will send someone to check the meter.
"We will send our meter operations or field services people to their house, we will make sure their meter is operating correctly if it is not and we have had occasions when it was not, we will give them a credit on their bill."
If you can't afford your bill -- you could be eligible for the department's Water Residential Assistance Program.
Those customers will receive a $25 monthly bill credit with past due bills of up to $700 frozen for 12 months.
For more information on the WRAP program visit: http://www.detroitmi.gov/News/ArticleID/689/New-Program-to-Assist-Low-Income-Water-Customers
