City Cracks Down On Water Delinquents

The Detroit water department intensifies its tactics to collect water debts in order to ease pressure from state lawmakers.

1 minute read

October 20, 2002, 5:00 AM PDT

By C. Scott Smith


"The water department's effort to collect overdue bills comes in the wake of calls by state lawmakers and some suburban officials for more regional control over the department, which serves 126 communities and is one of the nation's largest water utilities. The city sells water to suburban communities, which then charge customers and attach additional fees for delivering water and sewer service. Officials in Southfield and Warren, two of the largest suburbs served by the system, said they tack overdue water bills onto property taxes."

Thanks to C. Scott Smith

Friday, October 18, 2002 in The Detroit Free Press

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 4, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and yellow DART light rail train in Dallas, Texas with brick building in background.

DARTSpace Platform Streamlines Dallas TOD Application Process

The Dallas transit agency hopes a shorter permitting timeline will boost transit-oriented development around rail stations.

May 28, 2025 - Mass Transit

Metrorail train pulling into newly opened subterranean station in Washington, D.C. with crowd on platform taking photos.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”

The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

June 2, 2025 - The Hill

Worker in hard hat stands in front of oil pipeline under construction with yellow heavy equipment.

Supreme Court Ruling in Pipeline Case Guts Federal Environmental Law

The decision limits the scope of a federal law that mandates extensive environmental impact reviews of energy, infrastructure, and transportation projects.

3 hours ago - NPR

White, yellow, and blue Dallas Streetcar at station in downtown Dallas, Texas.

Texas State Bills to Defund Dallas Transit Die

DART would have seen a 30% service cut, $230M annual losses had the bills survived.

4 hours ago - Plano Star Courier

Collage of three photos of Team England cricket players taking green Lime bike share bikes to a game.

Bikeshare for the Win: Team Pedals to London Cricket Match, Beats Rivals Stuck in Traffic

While their opponents sat in gridlock, England's national cricket team hopped Lime bikes, riding to a 3-0 victory.

5 hours ago - The Straits Times

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.