The city tenaciously and persistently shuts off water for non-payment.
Clean water, pumped into a house, is a service, involving a huge infrastructure.
WHY do people foolishly dismiss it, pay zero mind, to the ONE thing they need daily ?
People do just fine without electricity, without gasoline, without alcohol/tobacco.
Assistance programs are in place: WRAP [[the Water Residential Assistance Program)

Detroit will continue shutoffs for "properties that have been turned on illegally."
Homrich Wrecking was given a new $7.8-million contract earlier this year to conduct water shutoffs in the city through June 30, 2021. It's THAT important to the city.