DETROIT — On Monday, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department temporarily stopped its water shutoff for 15 days. According to spokesman Bill Johnson, the department took this step to give residents with legitimate affordability problems an opportunity to contact the department and work out a payment plan. The department is reaching out to the community through churches, community groups, social media and other means to let people know of financial assistance options.

The issue brought international attention to Detroit, including a condemnation by the United Nations that shutting off the water was an affront to human rights.

 The same day the water shut-off was suspended, Detroit residents had filed a lawsuit asking U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes to return water service. Thousands of residential customer’s homes have had their water shut-off in the past months because they can’t or won’t pay their bills. In April and May, Detroit stopped water service to 7,556 customers. Paying customers have been saddled with higher rates to make up the difference. 

In March, the water department contacted customers with overdue bills and informed them that water service would be shut-off unless the bills were settled. According to reports, more than half of 15,266 suspended accounts were settled within 24 hours, leading to restoration of water service. Only 4 percent of  residential customers have suspended water service, according to the city.