One or a few people not paying water bills isn't likely to be a systemic problem and may just be due to individual issues, however, when large numbers of an urban community aren't able to pay their water bills, assuming this is true, than you have a major systemic problem of which not paying the water bill is simply an effect - in which case, some of the lazy pension sucking city officials need to get off their cans and address the likely causes, i.e, there are no jobs, not enough income in Detroit - you don't turn off the water in mass, which, at the very least puts individuals and the community at risk of disease from lack of hygiene, hydration etc....