Detroit City Council Member Lobbies for Replacement of Water Residential Assistance Plan

Detroit City Council member Raquel Castaneda-Lopez wants a program to prevent late payments on water bills.

Detroit City Council Member Raquel Castaneda-Lopez is calling for a new plan to help thousands of residents whose water is scheduled to be turned off because of late payments.

The proposed new Water Affordability Plan would focus on preventing customers from having the service shut off rather than helping them after the fact.

Castaneda-Lopez says the current water rates are simply unaffordable for some residents.

“So how do we look at adjusting the system that is more fair we are charging based on an individual’s ability to pay which is much more preventative and proactive versus reactionary,”  Castaneda-Lopez says. 

The city is notifying as many as 25,000 customers this week that they are in danger of having their water service shut off. 

 

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