Detroit ignores calls to get water shut off after pipe bursts in home, leading to major damage

City has apologized, is investigating

DETROIT – A mistake made by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department caused major damage in a Detroit woman’s home.

Pipes burst and a call was made to get the water shut off immediately while the homeowner was out of town. Those repeated calls for help were ignored.

Raynetta Bradley was out of town on Jan. 17, when her pipes burst. Her neighbors called when they saw water gushing outside of her home.

Bradley called DWSD to get the water turned off and her request was ignored -- so were her follow-up requests. The damage to the home is extensive and water spread everywhere.

Now, the city is apologizing to the homeowner and promises to make it right. The city has promised to investigate.


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About the Authors:

Hank Winchester is Local 4’s Consumer Investigative Reporter and the head of WDIV’s “Help Me Hank” Consumer Unit. Hank works to solve consumer complaints, reveal important recalls and track down thieves who have ripped off people in our community.

Kayla is a Web Producer for ClickOnDetroit. Before she joined the team in 2018 she worked at WILX in Lansing as a digital producer.