If you need help paying a water or sewer bill in Michigan, start with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Water Assistance Program. Its county dashboards identify the local administrator; if your county is not listed, call Michigan 2-1-1 and ask for water or sewer payment assistance. Contact the administrator promptly to check whether applications are open and funds remain.
Find the administrator serving your county
- Check the state program page. Open the MDHHS Water Assistance Program page and use its water assistance and affordability dashboards to look for the organization serving your county.
- If your county is not listed, call 2-1-1. Ask for water or sewer bill payment assistance in your county. Michigan 2-1-1 provides local program listings, but eligibility and available help can vary by program.
- Contact the local administrator. Ask if it is currently accepting applications, whether funds are available, who on the account must apply, and what documents are required. Also ask whether it can help with arrears, a current bill, restoration of service, or an affordability plan. The state page describes the program but does not show live county funding balances.
- Ask about shutoff protection if a deadline is near. Contact both the assistance provider and your water utility. Ask what happens while an application is pending; applying does not establish a statewide automatic shutoff hold.
Who may qualify for Michigan’s Water Assistance Program?
MDHHS says the account must be residential and connected to metered water or wastewater service. Its published income and benefit test is under 200% of the federal poverty level and/or active participation in one or more listed programs: Family Independence Program (FIP)/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Food Assistance Program (FAP)/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), State Emergency Relief (SER), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), or Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). A local administrator determines whether an individual household qualifies; being below an income threshold alone does not guarantee approval. See the MDHHS program criteria.
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What kinds of water or sewer help are covered?
Depending on the household’s situation and the local administrator’s decision, allowable services may include restoring water or wastewater service, reducing bill arrears, preventing arrears, and supporting a reasonable affordability plan based on the household’s ability to pay. MDHHS publishes a ceiling of up to $3,000 in bill assistance per household per fiscal year. That is a maximum, not a promised award, and it does not confirm that funds are currently available in your county.
MDHHS says funding is administered through Community Action Agencies until September 30, 2031, unless it is depleted sooner. Confirm current intake and funding with the local administrator rather than relying on the program end date as evidence that money remains.
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Use MI Bridges when it fits your application
MI Bridges is Michigan’s portal for applying for benefits, uploading verification documents, managing a case, and finding community partners. MDHHS also describes Navigator and community-partner assistance and in-person application routes. Water applications may be handled directly by the local water-program administrator, so follow the county provider’s instructions rather than assuming every water application must be submitted through MI Bridges.
Local options can have different rules
Detroit
The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) lists local water assistance options, including Lifeline, an income-based water affordability program. DWSD says residents enrolled in or applying for an assistance program remain protected from water shutoff. That statement is specific to Detroit, not a statewide rule. Lifeline has ongoing monthly-bill conditions, and the city page describes a benefit period for customers enrolled as of June 2026; check the DWSD assistance page for current enrollment terms.
Oakland County
In an announcement dated August 31, 2026, Oakland County described a partnership with United Way for Southeastern Michigan offering hardship help toward current water or sewer bills for up to three months, with exceptions potentially considered based on individual circumstances. Confirm that intake is open and ask the county or partner about documentation and current conditions through the Oakland County water assistance information.
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Local programs are not interchangeable. When you speak with an administrator or utility, check the details that affect your situation:
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- Whether the program serves your county and water utility.
- Whether assistance covers arrears, current charges, service restoration, or an affordability plan.
- Income, benefit, residence, account-holder, and metered-service requirements.
- Whether applications are being accepted and funds remain.
- What shutoff protection, if any, applies while you are applying or enrolled.
- How to apply and which verification documents to provide.
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