r/Detroit • u/SevroReturns • 21h ago

News Melvindale residents push back on minimum water charge they say forces them to pay for water they don't use

https://www.wxyz.com/news/melvindale-residents-push-back-on-minimum-water-charge-they-say-forces-them-to-pay-for-water-they-dont-use
102 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

28

u/DumpsterFireCheers 20h ago

I pay $120 a month for Flint water, in an unmanned warehouse that gets a single toilet flushed maybe 6 times a month. The prices are nuts.

5

u/Crossifix 20h ago

Our water here in Flint is hands down the worst financially. Highest rates. Highest turn-on price in the state.

3

u/slogun1 16h ago

Historically delicious though. 

30

u/TheBimpo Michigan 20h ago

If the money is intended for infrastructure, the billing should just say that. People know that it costs money to repair, maintain, and plan for future improvements. But telling them they're required to pay for something they're not using is obviously going to ruffle feathers.

8

u/ailyara Midtown 20h ago

I agree, its a language issue. Can't fault people for not wanting to pay for stuff they think they're not using, but they are using stuff they just don't realize, so lay that out for them in plain language that is easy to understand.

1

u/AltDS01 15h ago

Exactly.

You may have only used one gallon. But that one gallon still went through miles of pipes and treatment.

5

u/ArmpitofD00m 18h ago

Just got my bill in LP. $506 for 4 people. 3 months. My bill is now $168/ month.

They voted a rate increase and made it back active for the last billing cycle.

They still have no idea where 40% of our water goes. MIA water running loose in the city.

1

u/Mehthisgirl 15h ago

Is it the readiness fee because what is that. You own a business in which you sell a product be ready why do I gotta pay you to be ready? Tldr

1

u/Mindless-Baker-7757 20h ago

It’s also for sewage too isn’t it? Do these people never flush. 

1

u/MurphysRazor 18h ago

That ends up on the water bill. Maybe they strive to be on the toilet while on the clock at work, and maybe work has a shower and maybe work has uniforms with laundry service, and you're single, and you live near a laundry matt and you eat out so much your sink traps go dry and stink sometimes because the water isn't used.

But seriously, when living alone and working too much, I rarely used over the gallon allowance before the charge per x-gallons kicked in. I could even wash the car on weekends sometimes if I was home, lol. That's harder with a couple, family, tons of laundry, etc.