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‘We’re not a car wash’: Detroit family challenges water bills, claiming 110K gallons used in just 2 months
By Pamela Osborne, Jeff Jewell at WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News
· June 23, 2026
· 2 min read
A Detroit mother and son are fighting back against water bills they say are wildly inaccurate, claiming they couldn’t have used more than 110,000 gallons of water in just two months.Roderick Wright and his mother share a 1,100-square-foot home. He says the bills they received for April and May si...
Key takeaway Roderick Wright and his mother share a 1,100-square-foot home.
Why this matters in The Detroit
The Wright family's dispute with the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department over their exorbitant water bills has significant implications for Detroit residents who may be facing similar issues. The fact that the department's own estimates suggest the family used enough water to shower 2,750 times or flush 4,400 toilets in just two months raises questions about the accuracy of the city's water metering system. The case also highlights the financial burden that erroneous bills can place on low-income households, who may struggle to pay inflated charges. Director Gary Brown's willingness to apply the one-time leak policy and work with the Wright family to resolve the issue is a positive step, but it remains to be seen how the department will address the underlying issues that led to the mistake. Detroit residents will be watching to see if the department takes steps to prevent similar errors in the future.
About this story
Original reporting by WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News . The Detroit surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 23, 2026 ·
Source: WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A Detroit mother and son are fighting back against water bills they say are wildly inaccurate, claiming they couldn’t have used more than 110,000 gallons of water in just two months.Roderick Wright and his mother share a 1,100-square-foot home. He says the bills they received for April and May si...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 23, 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News and curated for The Detroit readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Pamela Osborne, Jeff Jewell at WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News. To learn more about how The Detroit selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Detroit, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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