Unpaid water bill in name of tenant 54000 .responsibility to pay tenant or owner

[Salman Ahmed]

Hello 

iam international owner of multifamily property in detroit mi.iam selling my property and have 54000 $ unpaid water bill in name of tenant. Dwsd says it's tenant responsibility but title transfer company is afraid it will be lien on property in future and wants me to pay.As per my understanding tenant account is created after water affidavit and lease documents.Whats the remedy to cure this bill apart from paying.its a huge loss.thanks