Watch CBS News

Computer Glitch Causes Temporary Stop In Detroit Water Shutoffs

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) -- The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department has temporarily suspended water shut-offs in the city because of a glitch in its computer system.

Spokesperson, Curtrese Garner said that the glitch will not allow the department to access a delinquent customer's account to apply a payment, so customers are getting vouchers to make payments over the next 10-15 days, when the problem will likely be fixed.

"Hopefully by Monday -- that's not a guarantee -- but when it is up and running we are going to submit something to our customers so they will know that everything is up and running," Garner said. "If they come in, we'll still have the voucher available for them if for some reason by Monday we are not up and running."

Crews have disconnected service to 31,300 customers since Jan. 1 due to unpaid bills and will continue that this winter — stopping only during long bouts of below freezing temperatures when the ground is too hard to dig to water connections.

"It has to be pretty low, below 32 for a long period of time," Garner said. "Last year was really, really cold for a long time. We had a brief hiatus."

Outside of spates of extreme cold, the water department will be "doing business as usual," she said.

[COMPLETE COVERAGE: Detroit Water Shutoffs]

 

TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.