DWSD announces new EasyPay Plan aimed at helping customers pay off past due balances to keep water services flowing

• Water department launches new payment arrangement for those not eligible for the Lifeline Plan
• Only $10 down for any customer with a past due balance, no matter their total balance and their income
• Remaining balance is spread over 36 months in addition to current monthly bill
• Protects from water shutoff and there are no penalties or interest

This evening during Mayor Mike Duggan's Charter-Mandated Community Meeting, Detroit Water and Sewer Department Director Gary Brown announced a new payment plan called "DWSD EasyPay." The payment arrangement replaces the 10/30/50 Plan and follows the similar innovative thinking that launched the income-based water affordability program, the Lifeline Plan. While the Lifeline Plan is for low-income households, EasyPay allows for any water, sewer and/or drainage customer to enroll, no matter their income and whether they are a resident, nonprofit, faith-based institution or business.

"We heard stories from our customers that in order to be successful in a payment arrangement, they need to have a low money down startup fee and more flexible terms to pay off their arrearages," said DWSD Director Brown. "We also talked with our counterparts in other major cities about their payment plans. We learned that $10 down and 36 months can be more effective. We want our customers to maintain their water service while making sure they pay for the services rendered."

With only $10 down, any DWSD customer with a past due balance can enroll. Here are the details:

• Replaces the 10/30/50 Plan;
• Low down payment - $10 deposit, no matter balance;
• No income restrictions to qualify;
• No barriers to enter;
• All types of customers qualify; and
• Easy to make the deposit and easy to pay monthly by phone, online or via a DivDat kiosk.

Once enrolled by phone or online, the customer has up to 10 days to make the deposit especially if they prefer to do so with cash at a DivDat kiosk. During the month after enrollment, they begin paying their installment in addition to their current DWSD charges.

Brown added that parking lots and vacant buildings with a past due drainage account are also eligible for EasyPay.

Once enrolled into EasyPay, similar to the Lifeline Plan, customers will be protected from shutoffs and other collections actions as long as the bill is current.

How EasyPay works
DWSD EasyPay is easy to enroll in and easy to understand. For example, an average water and sewerage bill for a family of three is $85 a month, with an average past due balance of $1,240. Once this family enrolls into EasyPay, they will pay $10 the first month, $34.17 will be their monthly installment for their past due balance the second month plus their current $85 water bill. The following months will continue to be $34.17 for their monthly installment plus their current bill for the month.

See below for diagram:

How to sign up
To enroll in the new DWSD EasyPay Plan, call 313-267-8000 and say "Easy Pay" or enroll through the DWSD Customer Self-Service Portal at csportal.detroitmi.gov. To learn more, visit detroitmi.gov/easypaywater.

To hear EasyPay explained, check out this 30-second video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba2Vw0rAT6I or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljRDCzYK3GI for a 60-second video.

About the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department
The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) delivers clean water and collects sanitary sewage and stormwater from more than 230,000 accounts, representing a residential population of nearly 700,000. DWSD's water system consists of more than 2,700 miles of water main and 29,000-plus fire hydrants, and the combined sewer collection system has nearly 3,000 miles of sewer piping, more than 90,000 catch basins and 16 green stormwater infrastructure projects within the city of Detroit. Since June 2019, DWSD has committed $100 million per year to begin to address the aging infrastructure, including replacing lead service lines. To learn more about DWSD or to request water services, make payments, apply for affordability programs, or report water or sewer emergencies, call DWSD Customer Service at 313-267-8000, use the Improve Detroit mobile app, or visit detroitmi.gov/dwsd.

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