Mayor Duggan to announce new plan for past-due water bills with $10 down payment

A new plan is being announced by Mayor Mike Duggan to tackle the city's water bill worries. This plan will require a $10 down payment plan for past-due water bills.

It's in addition to the city's income-based water affordability program.

The Lifeline Plan has more than 30,000 low-income households enrolled already and the city says it is beating expectations.

The payment for people on Lifeline is only $18 a month and all past-due payments are wiped clean.

I spoke to Detroit Water and Sewerage Director Gary Brown about why he believes this new plan, called Easy Pay, is so promising.

It will help 60,000 households that don't qualify for Lifeline.

"It's designed to get another 30 thousand households, another 100 thousand women, children, senior citizens into a payment plan that will also be as compassionate as the Lifeline Program and there will be no barriers to this particular program," Brown says.

It does not matter how much your income is with the Easy Pay Program or whether you are a church or a residential customer.

More details about the plan will be announced during the charter-mandated meeting, which is open to the public at 7 pm in the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center on Woodward or you can take part by Zoom at https://detroitmi.gov/MayorsDistrictMeeting .