Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes yesterday heard testimony from low-income families in Detroit who say they suffered hardships when the city cut off their water with no warning and are suing to prevent such shutoffs from happening again, Reuters reported yesterday. Judge Rhodes is hearing arguments through today before deciding whether to issue a six-month injunction against water cutoffs. The larger hearing to approve Detroit's plan for exiting bankruptcy is on hold for the week and will reconvene on Sept. 29. Nearly 20,000 Detroit residents lost access to water and sewers this summer, sparking protests and leading the mayor to issue a month-long moratorium on shutoffs as well as requirements that the water department post warnings on people's doors about the risk of losing water access.
