December 2008

U.S. Water News Online

DETROIT — More than twice the number of Detroit water customers face service shutoffs than at this time last year.

The Detroit News reports the city's Water and Sewerage Department has counted 10,237 accounts that are at least 90 days overdue. That number at the end of November 2007 was 5,030.

The number of people donating 50 cents per month through their bills to a nonprofit program that helps residents who can't pay their bills also has dropped by about 10,000 in the tough economy.

The department says discussions have started about adding cash to a fund that helps customers pay bills.

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