Overview:

  • Detroit's Lifeline H2O program has closed applications after enrolling 4,709 households.
  • The program offers $34 monthly water bills for households earning below 200% of federal poverty level, or $54,640 for a family of three.
  • Applications expected to reopen summer 2026 once additional funding becomes available.

By NUSHRAT RAHMAN
Detroit Free Press and BridgeDetroit

A Detroit program that reduces water bills to $34 a month has stopped taking applications. The water department director said the program is expected to reopen this summer, though the exact date is unknown.

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department’s Lifeline H2O plan − an affordability program based on income and water use − has reached its capacity with 4,709 households enrolled. An online application form noted that Lifeline H2O is no longer accepting new applications and the “next program year is expected to begin summer 2026.”

DWSD’s current water affordability plan is a drastically scaled-back version of the original Lifeline Plan, which reduced eligible Detroiters’ water bills to as low as $18 a month and wiped away debt on overdue bills. That version of the program once enrolled nearly 30,000 households. After it ran out of most of its money, officials had to revamp it to cover about 5,000 residents in a given year as the water department sought, and continues to pursue, additional funding.

What is Lifeline H2O?

The plan offers a fixed bill of $34 a month (for water, sewerage and drainage) and households can use up to 4,500 gallons of water. The program prevents shutoffs as long as customers remain on the plan and pay their bills. As of Feb. 9, customers with a past due balance are eligible, too. Previously, they were not. Outlier Media reported earlier this year that some households struggled to sign up for the revamped water affordability program.

“Those balances are frozen while customers remain current on their Lifeline H2O payments, helping residents manage their monthly payments and prevent service interruptions,” DWSD Director Gary Brown said in a statement to the Free Press.

Applications for the program are temporarily closed until additional dollars are available, including the Great Lakes Water Authority’s WRAP funds expected later this year, according to DWSD. WRAP, which stands for Water Residential Assistance Program, is intended to help households reduce past due balances and get water and sewer bill payment help.

“Along with recertifying currently enrolled households, we anticipate being able to enroll additional households with the next batch of funding to support more Detroiters,” Brown said. The capacity will be based on funding and the number of households who recertify.

Who is eligible for a reduced water bill?

DWSD account holders with a household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, or $54,640 for a three-person family, are eligible for Lifeline H2O. Applicants must have a functioning water meter.

“Later in 2026, DWSD will expand support further by offering plumbing audits and minor repair assistance for enrolled households experiencing unusually high usage due to plumbing issues − another step to help residents manage bills long term,” Brown said.

Customers who want to be notified when enrollment reopens for Lifeline H2O can fill out this form with their name, phone number and email address: https://detroitlifeline.com/identify?type=detroit_closed

Brown directed customers who are not enrolled in Lifeline H2O to EasyPay, an interest- and penalty-free program that does not have income restrictions. Customers can enroll by putting down a $10 deposit, then paying off the overdue balance over 36 months, on top of the regular bill. The program spares them from a water shutoff as long as they make their monthly payments.

Do you have questions about affording your water bill or Lifeline? Use Outlier Media’s free texting service to talk to a local reporter. Just text DETROIT to 67485. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies based on your usage. Text HELP for help or STOP to cancel. Terms and privacy policy.

Reach reporter Nushrat Rahman at nrahman@freepress.com.

This article was produced in conjunction with Planet Detroit and Outlier Media.

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