Nearly Half Of Detroit Water Customers Can’t Pay Their Bill

CBS Detroit ^ | 06/23/2014

[SeekAndFind]

It’s a basic human right: water. But could the United Nations soon help the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department provide the service to struggling customers? Water department spokeswoman Curtrise Garner says it’s a possibility — but for now, the water bills must be paid.

“We do have programs that do help those that are just totally in need; can’t afford it — but we also know that there are also people who can’t afford it would can not pay and we know this because, once we shut water off, the next day they are in paying the bill in full. So we do know that that has become a habit as well,” said Garner.

“At the DWAS Department — it’s not our goal to shut off water. We want people’s water on, just like they do; but you do have to pay for your water…That’s the bottom line.”

Garner said the reality is that nearly half of Detroit Water and Sewerage customers can’t pay their bills; and that has led activists to lobby the UN to step up and take action.

[RummyChick]

Ask the Muslims to help

[ColdOne]

Shaking head jpg.

[4yearlurker]

Entitlement mentality?

[ColdOne]

+1

[rainee]

Can’t pay or won’t. I’m sure Obama stash $ will take care of it.

[GOPJ]

Can’t? Half? Gimme a break. These are impulsive people who don’t want to put off gratification... As the man said, when the water’s shut off, they figure out a way to pay it to have it turned on...

[oh8eleven]

Nearly Half Of Detroit Water Customers Can’t Pay Their Bill
Nearly Half Of Detroit Water Customers Can’t Won't Pay Their Bill
Nearly Half Of Detroit Water Customers Can’t Want You to Pay Their Bill

[Alex Murphy]

So their debt situation could be described as being “under water”?

[grobdriver]

once we shut water off, the next day they are in paying the bill in full.

So the title of this piece should be, "...Customers won't pay their water bill"...

[DanielRedfoot]

No problem, they are within walking distance from the largest natural fresh water lakes in the world, grab a bucket.

[The FIGHTIN Illini]

Clean Water Is NOT A Right It Is A Privilege Someone Has Got To Pay To Make It Clean

[tcrlaf]

Doesn’t seem to matter much to the Union for Detroit Water Workers. They want their outrageous work rules, high salaries, and unbelievable retirements protected:

All union members, city employees, retirees & residents

RALLY & PICKET
Thursday, July 25, 4:30pm
City-County Building

STOP the ATTACKS
On DETROIT

-HANDS OFF OUR PENSIONS & ANNUITIES
-STOP PRIVATIZING CITY SERVICES
-STOP REGIONAL TAKEOVER OF DWSD
-GET EMA OUT OF DWSD – STOP JOB CUTS, JOB COMBINATIONS, PILOT PROGRAMS AND RESOURCE POOL
-END FEDERAL JUDGE COX’S ANTI-UNION COURT ORDERS
-END EM DICTATORSHIP – FULL DEMOCRACY FOR DETROITERS
-BAIL OUT DETROIT – NOT THE BANKS
-FEDERAL FUNDS NOW TO SAVE DETROIT

Get your church, union or community organization to endorse and build this rally. We need to flyer the entire city – and we can do it with your help. Call 313-995-5691.

[Uncle Miltie]

"It’s a basic human right: water."

No. Water is not a right.

You have to pay for it. Stuff doesn't show up for free just because you need it.

[Gen.Blather]

My uncle, is a landlord in a state where it’s impossible to evict non-payers. He’d find out if they were also not paying their water and power bills. If they weren’t he’d have to act to make the departments shut off services. (I don’t remember what the issues were, but apparently the departments were not quick to cut off services to “poor” people.)But if the services are shut off it was illegal for anybody to occupy the dwellings. The sheriff would then evict them. They would often just pick a room and defecate in it.

I know this sounds gross. But I’m currently buying a bank repo house. The walls were all bashed in and somebody defecated on the bathroom floor. Both toilets were filled to the top. So, I’d imagine the water was off for some time before they were evicted. (This is (was) a nice double-wide in a wonderful neighborhood.)

[kidd]

Uh oh.

Socialism ran out of other people’s money.

[BobNative]

To: SeekAndFind

Nearly Half Of Detroit Water Customers Can’t Pay Their Bill
Nearly Half Of Detroit Water Customers Can’t Won’t Pay Their Bill
Nearly Half Of Detroit Water Customers Can’t Want You to Pay Their Bill

SeekAndFind gets it so right!

Who pays most of the costs of the UN? Well duh, It’s the United States!

Didn’t we bail out Detroit once before?

[JoeFromSidney]

It’s a basic human right: water.

No, it isn't a right. It's a need, but that doesn't turn it into a right. It takes time and means to supply water. No one has a "right" to someone else's time and means. If they don't pay for it, they have no "right" to it.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: My uncle, is a landlord in a state where it’s impossible to evict non-payers.

There’s going to be a massive housing shortage in this state. Who is going to build houses for rent with conditions like this?

[EBH]

Well, you all take this as you want, but here where I live, Cleveland suburbs, paying the quarterly water bill has gotten very expensive in the last several years.

First they told us to conserve water, which thousands did. People install low flow this or that. Cut their water bills they did.

Then the sewer folks came back and said they had to raise rates because they were not getting enough money to maintain the infrastructure.

Then the fresh water folks said the same thing...not enough usage so rates have to go up!

Then the EPA fined the sewer folks and now we have to pay for the rain that falls on our roof and driveways...

Suddenly that water bill that used to be under $100 bucks for 3 months is now well over $250.00 and rising.

Now if you don’t pay it, they tack it onto your property taxes!

And it is all really kind of silly if you ask me ...that folks who live near one of the largest fresh water resources in the world ...can’t afford to have the water?