estion remained: Would she be charged for hundreds of gallons of water she says her family never used?

 She says,  Well, I really don't know. I couldn't tell you that.' I said,  I tell you what, I know what to do from here.' And that's when I contacted you,  she said.

Local 4 reached out to the city and they say she won't be billed, but they want to make sure people know they proactively notify customers through an automated call when unusual water usage is detected between midnight and 4 a.m.

Here's their full statement -  The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) proactively notifies customers through an automated call when unusual water usage is detected between midnight and 4 a.m., when household water use is typically lower. The alert does not necessarily mean a customer will receive a significantly higher bill. It is an early notification intended to help customers identify a potential leak, running toilet or other issue before it continues and leads to unnecessary water use and potentially higher costs.

DWSD prioritizes water conservation and affordability, and we want customers to have information that can help them better understand and manage their water use. Customers who receive an alert or are concerned about their usage can call DWSD Customer Service at 313-267-8000. Our Customer Service team will review their water usage and provide a detailed report showing daily or even hourly consumption, which can help identify when increased usage occurred and whether there may be an issue that needs to be addressed.