DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department’s Lifeline Plan which launched in June, to help accommodate low income residents and those with delinquent water bills, has reached a new record of 10,800 applications.  

Lifeline is an(?) 18-month pilot program which received $15 million from regional and federal funds according to Detroit Water and Sewerage Department spokesman Bryan Peckinpaugh.  With the current funding,  20,000 households could be supported by the Lifeline Plan, but sources for future funding are still unclear. 

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Among the 10,815 applicants as of early October, 4,224 have been approved for the program and received their first bill in September.  Recipients of the funding are brought into a fixed bill, but must use no more than 4,500 gallons a water per month- or risk paying an overage charge. 

More than 95% of households – upwards of 4,200 households – are using less than the 4,500 monthly maximum.  200 households are above the maximum usage of water according to Peckinpaugh. 

The DWSD said the average three-person Detroit household uses between 2,300 and 3,000 gallons of water per month, according to the water department’s billing data. 

When water advocacy group We The People of Detroit (WPD) asked DWSD Director Gary Brown in August how future funding would be secured, Gary told them that the DWSD intended to approach the governor and state Legislature for funding to keep the plan moving through 2024, and would advocate for more federal funding according to the Detroit Free Press. 

The DWSD plan outlines that customers using over 4,500 gallons per month will have a water audit to check for faulty plumbing and leaky/running toilets.  Additionally, applicants would be eligible for plumbing repairs through Wayne Metro.  

The DWSD will be hosting an enrollment fair for District 4 residents at Grace Community Church 21001 Moross Rd. from 3-7 pm on Oct. 24.  Pre-Enrollment is required and applicants must bring particular documents to be considered.