The threat of a coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has driven Mayor Mike Duggan and the Detroit Water and Sewage Department to create the “Coronavirus Water Restart Plan” for Detroit residents. This plan allows residents to have their water restored in their homes. Residents are eligible for the program if their water was shut off recently due to non-payment or if the DWSD sent a shutoff notice. Residents don’t have to pay past due amounts until after the COVID-19 outbreak is resolved.
To sign up for the program, residents must call Wayne Metro at (313) 386-9727 to schedule an appointment. The State of Michigan will pay a $25 payment to restore service for the first 30 days. After 30 days, residents will be responsible for a $25 monthly fee to keep service during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Mayor Mike Duggan and others from DWSD held a press conference to discuss the newly enforced plan.
“The governor (Gov. Gretchen Whitmer) and I sat down and said we’re going to create a solution so that no resident in the City of Detroit will have their water shut off due to a lack of funds,” said Duggan. In one week, Gary Brown and his team put together this proposal that you see today. This plan will go into effect this Wednesday, March 11. If you received a shutoff notice, whether in the mail or if it’s hung on your door, you can avoid your water shut off by paying $25. We will keep your rates at $25 as long as COVID-19 remains a health threat in this community, which will be a period of several months. If your water is off, contact us, and for $25, it’ll be turned back on.
So far, there’ve been 213 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States. Globally, there’ve been 110,029 confirmed cases and 3,817 deaths across 105 countries, areas, or territories.
Here are a few essential tips from the World Health Organization on how to protect yourself from the COVID-19 outbreak:
- Wash your hands frequently for up to 20 seconds.
- Maintain social distancing from anyone who is coughing or sneezing
- Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Practice respiratory hygiene (cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze).
- If you have a fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early.
For more tips and media resources regarding COVID-19, CLICK HERE.
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