[2] The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department is a sprawling network covering 1,079 square-miles,[1][3] servicing more than 40 percent of the U.S. state of Michigan's population,[1] and employing nearly 2,000 people.

[5] The water treatment plants used the technologies of "pre-chlorination, rapid mix, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and chlorine disinfection".

[10] Lisa missed some payments and turned to We The People of Detroit, an organization advocating for water justice, and relatives for assistance.

[8] The safety of residents during the time of the pandemic was a major factor in the government's decision to enact the Water Restart Plan.

As of 24 June 2014[update], the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department has taken on significant debt and delinquent accounts, and has been under discussion for potential privatization.

[11] Per a June 2014 Democracy Now article:[13] The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department says half of its 323,000 accounts are delinquent and has begun turning off the taps of those who do not pay bills that total above $150 or that are 60 days late.

"[14] On his Daily Show, Jon Stewart called out Ford Field and Joe Louis Arena on their delinquent DWSD accounts.

[15] In June 2014, activists from the Blue Planet Project had filed a "submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation ... activists say Detroit is trying to push through a private takeover of its water system at the expense of basic rights.