Water shutoffs have begun for Detroit water customers who are behind on their bills.
Thousands of customers have been put on payment plans, and there are still long lines at the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department as customers try to prevent water shutoffs.
There are several plans available to water customers who are experiencing financial trouble.
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."
"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."
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
