DETROIT — City water shutoffs resumed Tuesday, the same day a moratorium issued by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) ended. This week the Detroit Water Brigade requested that the city permanently extend the moratorium, which was initially given to allow residents more time to make payment arrangements. 

The Detroit water crisis has received international attention since it first began in March when DWSD announced it would issue shut-off notices to customers with unpaid balances that exceeded $150 and who were more than two months behind on their payments. 

At that time the DWSD said about half of its 324,000 account holders had outstanding balances that were past due. More than 15,000 customers had service cut between March and June, although many residents had it restored. The moratorium allowed shutoffs to be halted until Aug. 25. 

The city released a 10-point plan that is designed to help customers who are behind on their bills. It has also created the Detroit Water Fund to offer financial aid to those who need help paying their bills.