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Mother says Detroit Water and Sewerage Department shut her water off despite partial payment

Posted at 6:06 PM, Jun 15, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-15 18:06:33-04

Water shutoffs are continuing for Detroit residents who don’t pay their bills.

One single mother called us to say she made a partial payment and was still shut off.

She says it is not fair.  Her shutoff happened just as she was washing dishes in the kitchen sink.

Her kids are 11, 12 and 14.

There’s also no water in the bathrooms and even the toilets. It is not good for anybody.

Her last water bill shows a balance of $336. A receipt shows she made a payment on June 3rd for $100.

But the crew came this morning and cut her off by closing the valve in her front yard.

Here’s the key, on her bill in bold red type it says, past due, subject to shut off, if not paid immediately. To avoid shutoff, pay the total amount due or set up a payment plan.

State Rep. Alberta Tinsley-Talabi says he gets calls every day from people who have trouble with the Detroit Water Department.

A spokesman for the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department says their system requires a 10-percent payment of the amount due or in this case, 27 dollars, plus another 80 dollars - a reconnect fee.

That would get this mom back on the water system. She must set up a payment plan to stay connected, as must all Detroiters who are behind and want to avoid shutoffs.