In a significant development for the city of Detroit, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) has announced the removal of a $150 deposit previously required to establish new services.
The policy shift will result in an $8 million credit being distributed across more than 73,000 residential customers’ accounts. The credits, which equate to the deposit amount, will be applied directly to customers’ bills in either July or August, depending on individual billing cycles.
This credit will be used to offset any existing balance on the customer’s account or towards future water, sewerage, and drainage charges, until the credit amount is exhausted.
The decision comes as part of the DWSD’s continued efforts to make water services more accessible and affordable for Detroit residents.
The department’s director, Gary Brown, will be available to further explain the deposit credit and answer any questions at a press conference scheduled for 1 p.m. on Friday, July 28 at the Water Board Building, 735 Randolph St.
The deposit was initially instituted based on the equivalent of two months of the average residential bill. This measure aimed to mitigate the risk of a customer abandoning an account with an outstanding balance. However, this has now been deemed unnecessary.
It is important to note, however, that this credit will not be distributed to every DWSD customer. The credit only applies to those residents who established services and paid the deposit after 2016. Long-standing customers who did not need to establish any new services since 2016, and those who moved and were previously refunded, will not receive the $150 credit.
This action by the DWSD signifies a step towards the equitable distribution of essential resources, such as water, in a city that has seen its fair share of challenges in this arena. It demonstrates an acknowledgment of the financial constraints faced by many Detroit residents, with the hope that this change will alleviate some of the burden.
The long-term impact of this policy change will need to be monitored. However, the immediate relief provided to over 73,000 households can be considered a move in the right direction. A more equitable Detroit is a goal worth striving for and a vision we can all get behind. As Detroit continues to rise, so too should the living standards of its residents.
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