Water bill assistance for Detroit residents
A Detroit household that cannot keep up with its water bill has a few different possible options. The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department has a couple of programs and local non-profits as well as government programs may help as well. The monthly bill itself may be lowered through an income-based plan called Lifeline H2O. A balance that has already built up may be divided into small monthly payments through a plan called EasyPay, which stops a shutoff as long as the payments continue.
The sections below explain both DWSD plans, the state emergency program that may pay toward a water bill when service is threatened, the nonprofits the department refers people to, and where suburban customers outside the city can turn, since the Detroit plans only cover Detroit accounts.
The Lifeline H2O plan from the Detroit water department
Lifeline H2O is the water affordability plan from DWSD. Instead of a bill that changes with usage, an enrolled household pays one low, fixed amount each month that covers the water, sewerage, and drainage charges. The fixed amount is tied to household income. A set amount of water usage is included each month, and a household that stays under it pays nothing beyond the fixed bill. Anyone on the plan is protected from a shutoff as long as the monthly payment is made. When funding allows, the department may also provide free plumbing repairs for enrolled homes where a leak or old fixtures are driving usage up.
The plan only accepts a limited number of households in each program year, and it closes to new applications once those spots are filled. Because of that, the first step is to find out whether enrollment is open. Check the Lifeline H2O page from the City of Detroit at https://detroitmi.gov/departments/water-and-sewerage-department/dwsd-customer-service/dwsd-here-help-water-assistance-programs/lifeline-plan or call 313-435-2055.
- PRO TIP: When the plan is closed, that page has a form to join a notification list, so the household hears about it as soon as applications open again.
To qualify, a person needs to be the DWSD account holder, the home needs a working water meter, and household income needs to fall within the program's limit. Proof of income works, and so does proof of enrollment in a public benefit program such as SNAP, which Michigan calls the Food Assistance Program. One point matters for anyone already behind: joining Lifeline H2O does not erase money that is already owed. The past due balance stays on the account, and the household remains responsible for it.
The EasyPay plan for a past due balance
EasyPay is the DWSD plan for the balance itself. There is no income requirement. The customer puts down a small deposit, and the past due amount is then divided into monthly installments that are paid on top of the regular bill, with no interest and no penalties added. The department does not shut off water to an account with an active EasyPay agreement as long as the payments keep coming.
Enrolling may be done by phone at (313) 267-8000, through an online DWSD customer account, or at the payment kiosks located around the city. The two DWSD plans are not used at the same time, so a household considering both should ask customer service how an existing balance will be handled before deciding.
State Emergency Relief when a shutoff is close
Michigan runs an emergency assistance program that may pay toward a water or sewer bill when the service is already off or a shutoff notice has arrived. It is called State Emergency Relief, and it comes through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services rather than the city. The water department itself points customers with past due balances to this program.
A person may apply online through the MI Bridges system or at a local department office, and a caseworker decides what the household qualifies for. The NHPB guide to SER in Michigan explains this program and the documents an applicant needs.
Nonprofit help with a Detroit water bill
The department's own referral list names two nonprofits. The Heat and Warmth Fund, known as THAW, mainly works on heating and electric costs, but water bills are among the expenses it may cover when one of its funding rounds is open. The guide to water bill help from the Michigan THAW covers how its programs work and when to apply.
Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency administers water assistance for this region, and its staff may also help a household figure out which program fits its situation. The Wayne Metro assistance programs guide page lists everything the agency offers. Dialing 211 is one more route the department suggests for finding whichever local fund currently has money available.
Water customers in the suburbs around Detroit
Lifeline H2O and EasyPay only apply to DWSD accounts inside the city. The suburbs run their own water departments, even though many of them buy their water from the regional authority that serves southeast Michigan. A suburban customer who is behind should start with the phone number on the bill and ask that office directly about splitting the balance into payments. Asking before a shutoff order is issued makes an arrangement more likely.
Households in many of the communities served by the regional system may also qualify for the Water Residential Assistance Program, or WRAP. The program may put money toward the bill, and it may repair leaks or replace fixtures that waste water. Wayne Metro handles WRAP for this area, and the details are on the WRAP page from Wayne Metro at https://www.waynemetro.org/wrap/.
A warning about water payment scams
People behind on utilities are a common target for imposters. A caller, text, or door knocker who claims to represent the water department and insists on payment right now through a gift card, a wire transfer, or a payment app is not from DWSD. The department collects payments through its own billing system, its website, its kiosks, and its offices. When there is any doubt about who is asking for money, end the contact and call the customer service number printed on the bill to ask about the account directly.
Every program described here depends on funding that opens and closes, and approval is decided by each agency, not by this website. Check the current status, income rules, and required documents with DWSD or the organization itself before making plans around any of this assistance.
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