DETROIT – Detroit officials say they're stepping up efforts to collect on past due commercial water bills.
The Detroit Water & Sewerage Department says Monday the collection rate has increased to nearly 90 percent from 85 percent at the start of the year.
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Under a pilot program with a law firm, the department pursued collections on 40 commercial accounts that are delinquent for a total of more than $520,000. This month, the department says it will give the law firm an additional 220 delinquent commercial accounts to pursue totaling $1.7 million.
Previous report: Detroit water department goes after delinquent businesses
DWSD is negotiating with several large commercial customers that have past due accounts:
- Detroit Reentry Center - $648,000
- Vargo Golf - $442,000
- Belle Isle - $437,000 (Department of Natural Resources is responsible for this)
- Port of Detroit marine terminal - $430,000
- Detroit Board of Education - $271,000 (Currently in a payment plan)
DWSD assigned dedicated staff to manage 1,400 commercial accounts with past due bills. In the past 30 days , staff has placed 400 commercial accounts into payment plans. DWSD is making contact with the 1,000 remaining delinquent commercial customers to offer payment plans.
DWSD uses shut-off as the last tool in the toolbox to address past due water and sewer bills. Only illegal commercial and residential water hook-ups have been shut-off during the winter. DWSD will pursue commercial shut-offs this month on accounts that are past due and have not entered into payment plans. No residential customers have been shut-off since November unless they are illegal hook-ups.