Relief research · dataset 2026.08
Leak adjustment and assistance information for Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD)
A high bill does not automatically qualify for a credit. This page states only the provider-specific emergency, leak, or assistance details identified in public material.
Stop active water loss
Use the provider’s emergency route for public-side issues and a qualified repair route for private plumbing.
Preserve the evidence
Keep dated readings, photographs, parts receipts, contractor invoices, and proof that usage returned to normal.
Ask for the exact policy
Confirm the form, filing deadline, eligible repairs, calculation method, and payment expectation during review.
Provider-specific findings
Relief research for this provider
The notes below may document a route, rule, or explicit public-information limit. General preparation steps are not represented as utility policy.
- Emergency reporting route
- Call DWSD 24/7 at 313-267-8000 for a water-main break, street or meter-box leak, sewer backup, flooding, burst service line, or urgent water-quality issue. Residents can also submit infrastructure reports through the Improve Detroit app. DWSD is responsible for public mains and service lines to the curb stop; private owners generally handle piping from the curb stop to the building and private sewer laterals.
- Leak-adjustment policy
- DWSD's Leak Credit Application provides a sewerage-charge adjustment for an eligible concealed leak rather than automatically removing the water volume measured through the meter. The customer should identify the leak, repair it promptly, retain plumbing invoices or receipts and photographs, and provide the account number, leak and repair dates, repair description, and any required notarized affidavit. The application can be submitted through the customer portal or mailed to Detroit Water & Sewerage Department, Customer Care - Leak Credit Application, 735 Randolph, Suite 801, Detroit, MI 48226. DWSD may verify that the condition was concealed, caused the excess consumption, and has been repaired; approved credit is generally limited to sewerage charges for the defined leak period. Customers should pay an undisputed bill by its due date while a review is pending to avoid late charges or interruption.
- Utility assistance program
- Lifeline H2O is DWSD's income-qualified affordability program, subject to available funding. Current program material describes a $34 monthly water, sewerage, and drainage bill with an indoor-use allowance tied to household size, up to 1,125 gallons per household member per month (up to 4,500 gallons for a four-person household). Enrollment can provide shutoff protection while the customer remains compliant and may include a free water audit or minor plumbing repairs. EasyPay is broader: it has no income restriction, requires a $10 initial payment, and spreads the remaining past-due balance over 36 months with shutoff and penalty protection while the customer stays current. Lifeline H2O enrollment is handled at lifeline.detroitmi.gov or 313-435-2055; EasyPay is available through the portal or 313-267-8000.
- State and federal aid connection
- DWSD routes customers to Lifeline H2O, which has used Great Lakes Water Authority Water Residential Assistance Program (WRAP) funding and state/regional resources; funding and eligibility can change by program year. When appropriated, federal LIHWAP-style water assistance may be administered through local partner agencies rather than as a direct DWSD credit. Current public guidance points customers to Wayne Metro, 2-1-1, and Wayne County veterans financial-hardship services for application screening and pledges. Customers should provide the DWSD account number, bill, identity, household-income or public-benefit verification, and any shutoff notice, then ask the agency to transmit a pledge to DWSD before the Final Notice deadline.
Directory comparison
Public-information visibility
| Measure | This provider | Michigan | National index |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leak policy identified | Yes | 21% | 35% |
| Utility assistance identified | Yes | 16% | 31% |
| Relief fields documented | 4 of 4 | — | — |
Coverage does not measure generosity, eligibility, available funding, or service quality.
Read the nationwide analysis →Research record
Broad public detail found
4 of 4 fields in this section contain provider-specific public detail in dataset August 1, 2026.
Documented
100%
Primary verification routes
- Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) public website ↗
Provider-controlled destination used to confirm current customer instructions.
- EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System ↗
Federal background on public water-system records and their limitations.