Eastpointe, MI - Water - Questions, Comments, Thoughts

Why is a higher water usage rate charged for having larger supply line and/or Meter?

Water usage is water usage!
Waste water may not have increased just due to a larger supply line or meter. Explain please.

Residences, please make sure the line size/meter listed on your bill is correct.
Detailed Water Info, second item listed, Example - 5/8 General Maintenance. 5/8 is the line size and I believe the meter as well, not clear on bill. City Web site says "meter size". See link below.


Water bill late fee penalty 5% dropped August 1, 06 to July, 31, 07.

No longer an incentive to pay on time.
Could just keep your money in the bank and then pay up on July 31, 07 by close of business.
Amounts due prior to 8/1/06 will still have late penalty applied.
Found various residents owe large amounts with even one of our own Council members owing $788.74.

A. What is being done to immediately collect the past due amounts?
The % for each month late should be increased per month or an increase to the current flat rate late fee, and a cap based on amount and/or period to fully collect within so many months from original due date.

B. When did EP become a lending institution?
I don't recall this on an agenda notice.

C. On-line Utility Assessing accounts missing important information - billing period date, due date, current amount over due and number of weeks or months overdue.


Hopefully company replacing water meters are notifying residences when the inside dwelling shut off is defective.

Without this inside shutoff functioning, individuals will have no way to turn the supply off themselves. The only way to turn off the main supply after the new meter is installed would be to call the Public Works & Services (445-5053) during normal business hours to have the underground, outside stop box valve turned off with the special wrench.

A. This would then be a charge correct?

B. How much?


Change of mechanical water meters to electronic auto read water meters came from the water and sewer fund.

A. Council approved the amount of approx $2.2 million dollars. Current figure mentioned at an August council meeting closer to $3.0 million. What is the real figure now?

B. What are the exact reasons for the cost over runs?

C. Is there not a fixed contract with the installer?

D. Since Wayne O'Neal botched several other repair/replacement estimates, how many others are wrong and what are they?

E. Are water bills being estimated OR are they being read manually until the auto read system is operational sometime next year?

F. If they are being estimated now, could we be in for a real surprise when the auto system goes on line providing the promised actual reading correct?

G. No "Key" of abbreviations listed on the water bill.

H. Suggested Water bill updates, Example - Usage rate 50 Units/ 2900 cubic feet/Gallons X rate per gallon. Make the bill clear and simple.

I. Info on back of water bill - 750 gallons = 1 unit of water, which we all will take as correct.
Info on Eastpointe Water Info (Web site) list different water bill example, make example larger so one can read, 1 unit of water is 100 cubic feet = 748 gallons.

J. Why does payment location list Detroit, PO Box Vs Eastpointe PO Box or even City Hall Water Dept?

K. Is Item "J" an outsourced process, another firm or bank collects the mailings, makes the deposits, EP accounting receives deposit slip, the payment posting is by EP?

L. What is meant by ***Checks are a conditional payment*** on the bill when mailing? No riddles Please, explain clearly.

M. Monthly water bill Vs quarterly bill would allow ease in budgeting.
What about offering monthly budget plan?

http://www.ci.eastpointe.mi.us/PubWks/WatInfo.html


It would have been more logical to have spent the New water meter funds directly into our old water and sewer system infrastructure.

No mater how great the new meters may be or possibly a bit more accurate than some in the city, the greatest portion of water lost is due to the underground water supply system directly, leaking shutoffs, pipes, etc.

A. What is the difference of the amount of water accounted for compared to actual usage based on the two main city meters?

B. City broken down into separate metered areas correct?

C. Understandable that amount of unmetered water such as fire department usage will need to be estimated but, Public Works should have previous records for a good estimate.

D. What and where are the other unmetered water usage points?

E. Are the Public Works main water meters going to be replaced as well since they too are old and possibly not as accurate?

F. Noticed over the past year that the main incoming water pressure seems to have been reduced. This has affected proper functioning of irrigation and most important water saver (low gallon) toilets, which are designed to function correctly based on sufficient water pressure. What is the main water pressure at the Public Works? PW must be monitoring the pressure, What have been the ranges over the past 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year? What are the required high and low pressure limits that are to be provided and maintained?