At least they have water. We are going through the worst drought in our areas history.
Hell, they are about to be recycling our waste water for consumption.
Problem is when cities use utilities to increase the General Fund (Denton, TX for example) as opposed to actual costs and reserves for repair and replacement of facilities. Rates skyrocket far faster than inflation and actual costs of doing business.
Detroit needs to reanalyze its fees and costs, then figure out a way to allow the citizens to recover their service. Bet it is still using the fee structure from the old administration with its hidden fees, costs, etc that went to cronies.
There is plenty of water in Detroit. Lake St. Clair is full up to the top. All the snow melt from this last winter has filled the Great Lakes to the brim.