Originally published by Outlier Media.
In the heart of Detroit, residents like Melissa Dettloff are grappling with changing water affordability initiatives. Residing in Russell Woods, Dettloff was part of Detroit’s water affordability plan until the recent announcement of its conclusion, which left many like her searching for alternatives.
Having previously benefited from the city’s Lifeline Plan, which saw participation from up to 29,000 households, Dettloff paid just $18 monthly for her water. However, the depletion of the program’s funds necessitated a reevaluation by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD). Now, the revamped program, Lifeline H2O, accommodates only 5,000 households at a monthly rate of $34…