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Detroit
Water
Department
(DWSD)
to
restore
water
service
at no
initial
cost to
customers
during
Coronavirus
outbreak
•
Move is
preventive;
No cases
reported
yet in
Michigan
• For
first 30
days,
State of
Michigan
will
cover
costs to
restore
water
• After
30 days,
for only
$25 per
month,
customers
without
water
can have
it
restored;
those at
risk and
not in a
current
plan can
avoid
service
interruption
• Plan
will be
in
effect
for
duration
of
COVID-19
outbreak
DETROIT
– Mayor
Mike
Duggan,
Governor
Gretchen
Whitmer,
and
Detroit
Water
and
Sewerage
Director
Gary
Brown
today
announced
a
Coronavirus
Water
Restart
Plan to
mitigate
any
prospective
health
risks
from the
Coronavirus
COVID-19
by
helping
to
ensure
that all
Detroiters
have
access
to water
in their
homes.
Under
the
jointly-developed
plan,
for the
first 30
days,
the
State of
Michigan
will
cover
customers’
costs to
reconnect
water
service
for
Detroiters
who are
currently
experiencing
or at
risk of
experiencing
a water
service
interruption
due to
non-payment.
After 30
days,
Detroiters
who are
at risk
of a
water
service
interruption
will be
able to
restore
or keep
their
water
service
by
paying
only $25
per
month.
While
there
are no
reported
cases in
Michigan,
Brown is
aware
prevention
is key.
“We know
that
washing
hands is
an
important
defense
to this
virus,
so for
the
duration
of the
COVID-19
situation,
DWSD is
implementing
this
plan to
help
make
sure
every
Detroiter
has
access
to clean
running
water.”
“While
there
are no
confirmed
cases of
Coronavirus
in
Michigan,
one of
the best
ways to
combat
the
spread
of this
disease
is by
washing
your
hands
thoroughly,”
said
Governor
Whitmer.
“That’s
why the
state is
stepping
up to
cover
the cost
of water
restoration
for the
first 30
days,
because
it’s the
right
thing to
do to
keep
families
safe and
protect
public
health.”
“Every
organization
and
agency
must
work
together
to
ensure
that we
are
prepared
for
COVID-10
cases in
our
communities,”
said Lt
Governor
Garlin
Gilchrist.
“This
partnership
will
help
some of
the most
vulnerable
to this
disease
simply
because
they
have
fewer
financial
resources.”
Eligibility
Brown
said the
plan
applies
to
residents
who are
currently
living
without
water
service
and
residents
who have
received
a door
hanger
of a
pending
water
service
interruption
for
nonpayment.
How it
works/How
to apply
Under
the $25
Plan, it
is a
simple
three
step
process
for
eligible
customers
to keep
their
water
flowing:
1.
Residents
without
water,
or who
have
received
a door
hanger
indicating
that
they are
at risk
of
service
interruption,
will
only
need to
call
Wayne
Metropolitan
Community
Action
Agency
at
313-386-9727
to make
an
appointment.
2. Once
an
appointment
is made,
DWSD
will
begin
the
process
of
restoring
service
or
cancelling
a
pending
service
interruption.
Customers
do not
have to
pay
anything
at this
time.
3. After
the
first
month,
customers
will be
required
to pay
the $25
per
month
until
the
COVID-19
outbreak
passes.
The
amount
of each
enrolled
customer’s
arrearage
will be
deferred
until
after
the
COVID-19
situation
is under
control.
At that
time,
residents
will be
transitioned
to the
WRAP or
a
10/30/50
Payment
Plan,
both of
which
will
keep
their
water
service
on as
long as
they
remain
current.
“We
deeply
appreciate
Gov.
Whitmer’s
support
and
leadership
on this
issue,”
said
Mayor
Mike
Duggan.
“As long
as
COVID-19
remains
a health
concern,
no
Detroit
resident
should
have
concerns
about
whether
their
water
service
will be
interrupted.”
Implementation
Timeline
Residents
can
begin
calling
Wayne
Metro on
Wednesday,
March
11. The
Wayne
Metro
call
center
is open
Monday
through
Friday 9
AM to 7
PM and
Saturday
9 AM to
Noon. To
prepare
for the
new
program,
staff
will be
trained
on
Monday
and
Tuesday
of this
week and
information
will be
placed
on the
City’s
website.
If the
Coronavirus
situation
health
risk
increases
in the
state of
Michigan,
Brown
said
DWSD
will
re-evaluate
its
options.
“We
know
good
hand
hygiene
is among
the
protections
advised
to keep
us safe
from
viral
illnesses
including
COVID-19,”
says
Detroit
Chief
Public
Health
Officer
Denise
Fair.
“The
WRAP
program
not only
helps
those
seeking
water
assistance,
it
supports
us all
in the
fight
toward
preventing
the
spread
of this
virus in
our
community.”
$2.4M in
assistance
available
today
On
February
26th,
with the
support
and
diligent
efforts
of
Governor
Gretchen
Whitmer
and the
Great
Lakes
Water
Authority
(GLWA)
board
appointees
from
Wayne,
Oakland
and
Macomb
Counties,
the GLWA
board
transferred
an
additional
$1.1
million
in WRAP
funds
for the
City of
Detroit
and
nearly
$500,000
for the
City of
Flint to
prevent
service
interruptions.
Detroit
currently
has $2.4
million
available
for the
WRAP
program.
Governor
Whitmer
also
increased
the
amount
of State
Emergency
Relief
Funds
that can
be used
for
water
payment
assistance.
“We
encourage
any
Detroiter
who is
facing
service
interruption
to take
advantage
of WRAP
and
these
assistance
dollars,”
Brown
said.
“All any
resident
has to
do is
make a
call to
Wayne
Metro
and they
will
avoid
service
interruption.
This is
the most
successful
and
robust
assistance
program
in the
country,
resulting
in
16,500
Detroit
households
receiving
help
that
continued
water
service
to their
homes.
With
these
options,
no one
should
be
without
water
service.”
“In
order to
make the
most of
the WRAP
program
benefits,
we are
asking
the GLWA
Board to
act this
Wednesday
to
provide
an
option
to
increase
WRAP
funding
and
expand
the
income
qualifications,”
Mayor
Duggan
said.
“We
appreciate
Governor
Whitmer’s
and
County
Executive
Warren
Evans’
strong
support
to
further
expand
WRAP
benefits
for
Detroit
water
customers.”
Under
the
proposal,
the
funding
the WRAP
program
receives
each
year
through
its
lease
with
GLWA
would
double
to $5
million
for
Detroit
and
income
eligibility
requirements
would be
expanded
to
include
individuals
and
families
making
200% of
the
poverty
level.
This
means
that a
family
of four
earning
a
combined
$52,400
per
year,
for
example,
would be
eligible
for WRAP
support.
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