DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – The city of Detroit shut off water for nearly 10,000 accounts in 2024 after lifting its no-shutdown moratorium in place from 2020 to 2022 during the pandemic.

The city shut off water to 9,995 water and sewer accounts in 2024, a big increase from the 1,472 accounts that were shut off for nonpayment in 2023. That’s according to data released from the city.

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Detroit implemented The Lifeline Plan for low-income residents, which it described as a “income-based water affordability plan’ where the water and sewage bill could be as low as $18 a month. If residents enroll in the plan, they have their existing water debt erased.

Shutting off water to Detroit residents marked a big controversy in 2014 when The Daily Show with Jon Stewart did a segment on it in 2014. At that time, Amnesty International said shutting off water to the poor in the city of Detroit was a “violation of the right to water.”