The United Way for Southeastern Michigan, which oversees the Detroit Water Fund, is currently helping around 200 households with a payment plan that covers 25 percent of a delinquent resident’s bill, while the resident pays the rest. A recent $2 million award from the Michigan Health Endowment will help the fund assist more people. 

“We anticipate we’ll be able to help about 6,000 customers,” says Doug Plant, the vice president of operations for the United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

Another campaign, the crowdfunded “Detroit Water Project,” is connecting donors directly with people who need help. The project’s website says it has 7,000 donors.

Greg Eno, a public affairs specialist with Detroit Water and Sewerage says his office has only one goal. “The theme right now is keep the water on,” says Eno. “And whether that’s through donations, through our payments plans or through any other source of funding, whatever it takes, that’s the mission.”