Water and Sewerage Department | City of Detroit (2024)

Water and Sewerage Department | City of Detroit (1)

DWSD is here to help – no one has to lose their water service!

Your monthly water bill could be as low as $18 and your past due balance erased.

Enroll Today!

Customer Portal Pay your bill or access your account
Customer Service Make or request other account transactions

We deliver some of the world’s cleanest, safest drinking water.

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) delivers clean water and collects sanitary sewage and stormwater from more than 230,000 accounts, representing a residential population of nearly 700,000.

DWSD’s water system consists of more than 2,700 miles of water main and 29,000-plus fire hydrants, and the combined sewer collection system has nearly 3,000 miles of sewer piping, more than 90,000 catch basins and 16 green stormwater infrastructure projects within the city of Detroit. Since June 2019, DWSD has committed $100 million per year to begin to address the aging infrastructure, including replacing lead service lines.

For Customer Service and Water & Sewer Emergencies Call

(313) 267-8000


Resources

  • File a Damage Claim

  • Report Water or Sewer Problems

  • Pay Your Water Bill or Access Account

  • Submit DWSD FOIA Request

  • Lifeline Plan and Assistance Programs

  • Doing Business with DWSD - Procurement

News & Events

DWSD scales up lead service line replacement to 8,000 per year, thanks to $85M in EGLE grants

News

Previous pace was 700 annually; Detroit now a national leader in replacing lead service linesAdded work cr

DWSD Director Gary Brown attends The White House Water Summit; Detroit signs on with Great Lakes Lead Pipes Partnership

News

Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) Director Gary Brown was acknowledged in Wahington D.C.

Board of Water Commissioners April 17, 2024 Meeting

Event

The Detroit Board of Water Commissioners will have its April monthly meeting on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 2 p.m.

MORE EVENTS
MORE NEWS
Permits Request water or sewer tap permits and hydrant use permits
Lead Service Line Verification Verify if you have a lead service line
Water Upgrades Get updates on water system construction
Sewer Upgrades Get updates on sewer system construction
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Water and Sewerage Department | City of Detroit (2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=853vzrq4dBA DWSD Delivers Clean Water
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Water and Sewerage Department | City of Detroit (3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkTcoYIXPa0 DWSD Lifeline Plan
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Water and Sewerage Department | City of Detroit (4) https://youtu.be/jV8JPrmmzXk DWSD Working Hard for You - Recruitment
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Water and Sewerage Department | City of Detroit (5) https://youtu.be/tbCWP_tGcHE DWSD Protect Your Pipes
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Water and Sewerage Department | City of Detroit (6) https://youtu.be/ENegygUmJ68 Let's Get the Lead Out
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Water and Sewerage Department | City of Detroit (7) https://youtu.be/2-Sfe0MlJd0 DWSD Save Money & Protect Your Pipes
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Water and Sewerage Department | City of Detroit (8) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnvw-ewt1kk Catch Basin Education
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Water and Sewerage Department | City of Detroit (9) https://youtu.be/PNLrCbvjo0Q DWSD Expands Virus Detection Partnership with MSU to Combat COVID-19
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Water and Sewerage Department | City of Detroit (10) https://youtu.be/jTh2tmGW9rg DWSD Sewer Lining Video
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Water and Sewerage Department | City of Detroit (11) https://youtu.be/3MgRdWaj2SQ How to Register Your Detroit Water Account - DWSD Customer Care Web Portal
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Water and Sewerage Department | City of Detroit (12) https://youtu.be/qMbAd90L7Ak DWSD Field Services Technician - CCTV
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Water and Sewerage Department | City of Detroit (13) https://youtu.be/P9lCBqOFm4E DWSD Water Main Replacement Projects
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Water and Sewerage Department | City of Detroit (14) https://youtu.be/9CA6YNims-s Working Together Makes a Big Difference
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Water and Sewerage Department | City of Detroit (15) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdOeQgBwO_I&ab_channel=CityofDetroit SBA Info

News

DWSD scales up lead service line replacement to 8,000 per year, thanks to $85M in EGLE grants

Previous pace was 700 annually; Detroit now a national leader in replacing lead service linesAdded work cr

DWSD Director Gary Brown attends The White House Water Summit; Detroit signs on with Great Lakes Lead Pipes Partnership

Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) Director Gary Brown was acknowledged in Wahington D.C.

Current DWSD Chief Operating Officer Sam Smalley appointed Deputy Director

The Detroit Board of Water Commissioners recommended the appointment of DWSD COO Sam Smalley as Deputy Director

DWSD Customer Service

We are here to help you with your Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) account.

Water and Sewer Meters

Information on Water and Sewer Meters

Protect the Pipes

How to protect your pipes and how DWSD is maintaining and upgrading the public water and sewer systems

DWSD is Here to Help – Water Assistance Programs

Options for payment and water conservation assistance for your DWSD account

Coronavirus COVID-19 Water Restart Plan

Coronavirus COVID-19Water Restart Plan

Water and Sewer Maintenance/Emergencies

Learn about the water and sewer systems, pipe responsibility and report water and sewer emergencies.

Fire Hydrant Use Information

Information on correct fire hydrant use and how to apply to use a fire hydrant.

Billing and Payments

Find out what factors contribute to your bill, how you can pay and dispute your bill

Pay My Bill and Manage My Account

Login to manage your water department account.

DWSD Landlord and Tenant Agreements Information

DWSD Landlord and Tenant Agreement information

Customer Policies

Learn about the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department customer policies

Request DWSD Real Estate Closing Bill

Request a final water read and real estate closing bill

DWSD Leak Credit

DWSD Leak Credit

How Do I Turn On/Transfer/Turn Off Water Service

How do I turn on, transfer or turn off water service

Learn About Your Water and Sewer Bill

Information about DWSD bills

How to file a damage claim after a sewer backup or other incident related to the water and sewer systems.

Nonresidential Drainage Credits

Learn ways to get credits on the drainage charge for nonresidential parcels

Drainage Charge

The drainage charge is a fee for collecting, storing and treating rainand snow meltthat runs off hard, impervious surfaces

Request a DWSD Permit

Request a permit for water or sewer taps, hydrant use and demolition.

Drainage Guide and Forms

Drainage charge and credit guides and forms

Information aboutFire Hydrant Use & Maintenance

How Does DWSD Use My Data?

How Does DWSD Use My Data?

Customer Portal

You can pay your water bill and access your Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) account on our Customer Portal.

DWSD Projects

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) hasprograms and initiatives to deliver clean water,rehabilitate the water and sewer systems, and improve stormwater management.

Information onWater & Sewer Upgrades: North Rosedale Park

Information onWater & Sewer Upgrades: Cornerstone Village

Making Detroit Lead Safe

Information about the Lead Safe Detroit program.

Stormwater Project: Oakman Boulevard

Information onStormwater Project: Oakman Boulevard

Fenkell Stormwater Projects

Fenkell Stormwater Projects

West Chicago Stormwater Improvement Project

West Chicago Stormwater Improvement Project

Brightmoor Stormwater Improvement Project

Brightmoor Stormwater Improvement Project

Far West Detroit Stormwater Improvement Project

West Warren/Parkland Neighborhood Stormwater Management Project

Capital Improvement Program

Overview of the DWSD capital improvement program.

Stormwater Management and Drainage Charge

Overview of DWSD's stormwater management activities and the drainage charge.

DWSD Unplanned Full Lead Service Line Replacement Program

Funded by the Sate of Michigan, DWSD is replacing lead service lines it has encountered during previous maintenance work near residential properties.

DWSD Procurement

Information about DWSD contracts and procurements, including theMichigan Inter-governmental Trade Network (MITN)

Green Stormwater Infrastructure Projects

Find out aboutDWSD's Green Stormwater Infrastructure Plan

DWSD Construction

Construction projects for planned water and sewer upgrades and emergency repairs

Standard Specification for DWSD Projects

Detailed engineering specifications used in project contract documents as a standard by which all DWSD projects are developed.

DWSD System Plans

System plans covering improvements and expansion to fresh water and wastewater networks, as well astechnical specifications for plumbing and water drainage systems.

DWSD Resources

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) has resources, educational materials and tips, and legislative documentsavailable to the public.

Basem*nt Backup and Flood Protection

Basem*nt Backup and Flood Protection

Water Saving Tips

DWSD Flood Safety and Reduction Tips

DWSD Flood Safety and Reduction Tips

Submit DWSD FOIA Request

Follow the instructions to submit a FOIA request to DWSD.

Stormwater Management Regulations

Overview of City of Detroit stormwater management regulations

Fats, Oil and Greases

Fats, oils and greases that can build up in your drains and cause sewer backups. The good news is that this is preventable.

Blue Ribbon Panel on Affordability

Summary of finding from the 2015 - 2016Blue Ribbon Panel on Affordability

Water Quality Reports

Annual DWSD water quality reports

DWSD Legal Notices

DWSD Legal Notices

DWSD Policies

Polices approved by the Board of Water Commissioners

DWSD Metrics

Metrics from the DWSD Director

Board of Water Commissioners Agendas and Documents

Board of Water Commissioners Agendas and Documents

Awards

Awards earned by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department

About DWSD

Overview of DWSD and its history

Water and Sewerage Department | City of Detroit (2024)

FAQs

How much is the average water bill in Detroit? ›

Currently, an average Detroit household with three people uses between 2,300 and 3,000 gallons of water per month and pays $81.62 per month for their water, sewerage and drainage.

Is Detroit water safe to drink now? ›

The water supplied by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) is clean and safe for drinking, and some of the best in the world. The water leaving Detroit's water treatment plants, operated by the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), does not contain lead, and most water mains are cast iron or ductile material.

Is Detroit water safe to drink in 2024? ›

The City of Detroit's drinking water is clean and safe to drink and it meets or exceeds all federal and state regulatory standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

How do I dispute a water bill in Detroit? ›

Bill Disputes

A monthly-billed customer of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) may dispute a bill not later than twenty-eight (28) days after the billing date. After the period expires, the customer forfeits the right to dispute the bill. To dispute the bill, call DWSD at 313-267-8000.

Why is Detroit water so expensive? ›

In Detroit, an aged system, inadequate revenue, public health risks and long-term population loss contribute to escalating infrastructure cost and water rates.

How much do utilities cost per month in Detroit? ›

Utilities (Monthly)

In Detroit, energy bills cost around $219.20 per month.

Is Detroit water hard or soft? ›

Yes, Detroit does have hard water.

Where does Detroit get its water? ›

The water used for all purposes in the Detroit area is obtained from three sources: Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River, their tributary streams and inland lakes, and ground water. During 1950 Lake St.

Does Michigan still have water problems? ›

PFAS is Michigan's most widespread, serious contamination problem since the PBB crisis of the 1970s. Thousands of Michigan residents' water supplies have been impacted, and the full scope of the contamination from these so-called “forever chemicals” is not yet known.

What happened to Detroit water? ›

In April 2014, during a financial crisis, state-appointed emergency manager Darnell Earley changed Flint's water source from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (sourced from Lake Huron and the Detroit River) to the Flint River. Residents complained about the taste, smell, and appearance of the water.

What body of water is next to Detroit? ›

Detroit River, river forming part of the boundary between Michigan, U.S. (west), and Ontario, Can. (east), and connecting Lake St. Clair (north) with the west end of Lake Erie (south). The river flows southwest and south for 32 miles (51 km) between Detroit and Windsor, Ont.

Is Dearborn water safe to drink? ›

The City of Dearborn and the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) are committed to meeting state and federal water quality standards including the Lead and Copper Rule. With the Great Lakes as our water source and proven treatment technologies, the GLWA consistently delivers safe drinking water to our community.

Can you get a refund on water bill? ›

If you're on a water meter you may build up credit on your water bill, which can be refunded. Every water supplier differs in how it handles this, but it's a good idea to check your water bill and ring your supplier if you're in credit. The supplier should either reduce your monthly payments or pay your money back.

Do landlords have to pay water bill in Michigan? ›

Responsibility for payment of the water bill is entirely negotiable, but many landlords choose to pay it and "gross up" the lease to cover the reasonable cost.

Who owns water rights in Michigan? ›

The reality is that the State of Michigan actually owns the water, and riparian rights exist for any property owner whose land is adjacent to or borders a body of flowing or navigable water.

What is the average cost of water per month in Michigan? ›

Introduction
#StateAverage Water Bill
32Indiana$30
33New York$30
34Michigan$29
35Georgia$28
46 more rows

How often do you get a water bill in Michigan? ›

How often do I receive a water bill? Residential customers receive a bill approximately every two months. Commercial properties are billed on a monthly basis.

What is the average cost of utilities in Michigan? ›

What are utilities per month in Michigan? The average monthly cost in Michigan for utilities is $250. That cost includes the typical monthly bills for electricity, water, internet service and natural gas.

What is the ppm of tap water in Detroit? ›

Water Hardness Michigan
CityAVG Hardness PPM / mg/LAVG Hardness Grains per Gallon
Clinton1016
Dearborn1016
Dearborn Heights1016
Detroit1016
26 more rows

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