Water Bill Assistance: Programs That Help Pay Your Bill

Water bill assistance in 2026 comes almost entirely from your own water utility, your city, or a local charity. The federal water program that paid bills during the pandemic is gone, and LIHEAP, the energy program, does not pay water or sewer charges.

That leaves five real routes: an ongoing discount, a one-time grant for a past-due balance, a payment agreement, a leak adjustment, and the shutoff rules your state or city sets. Most households can use two or three of them at once.

Below are the programs we confirmed on the utilities’ and agencies’ own websites on November 3, 2026, with amounts, income limits and who to call. Gas and electric help is a separate topic: if a gas bill is the problem, see our guide to help with a gas bill, and our utility bill help hub covers the rest.

Key Takeaways

• The federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) has no money left. California’s agency says the program sunset on March 31, 2024.
• Your water utility is the first call. Many run income-based discounts, such as DC Water’s, worth $218 to $1,572 a year.
• For a past-due bill, one-time grants exist in some areas: up to $500 from New Jersey American Water’s H2O program or Maryland’s WSSC Water Fund.
• Ask for a payment agreement before the shutoff date. New York City and New Jersey American Water both start with a 25% down payment.
• State shutoff rules differ widely. California bars shutoffs until a bill is 60 days late; Pennsylvania has no winter ban for ordinary water service.

Is there still a government program that pays water bills?

No national one. LIHWAP, created by Congress in late 2020, was the only federal program built to pay household water and sewer bills, and its money ran out. The federal Administration for Children and Families now says plainly: “Households cannot receive LIHWAP benefits at this time.” Help today is local.

LIHWAP got $1.138 billion in fiscal year 2021: $500 million from the American Rescue Plan Act and $638 million from the Consolidated Appropriations Act. States, tribes and territories handed it out through the same offices that run energy aid.

By the end, it had reached 1,535,838 households, according to the federal final impact report. It prevented 923,583 disconnections and restored service 101,687 times. Then it stopped. California’s Department of Community Services and Development says its program sunset on March 31, 2024.

You will still find state and utility pages that mention LIHWAP as if it were open. Treat any federal LIHWAP application you find as out of date (a few local utilities reuse the name for their own funds, so check who runs it), and do not pay anyone who offers to file one for you.

Does LIHEAP pay water bills?

No. LIHEAP covers heating and cooling costs only. Florida’s LIHEAP office puts it in one line: “The program cannot pay for water, sewer or telephone services.” Other states say the same.

LIHEAP can still help your water bill indirectly. Getting energy aid frees up money, and some water utilities treat a LIHEAP approval as automatic proof of low income (more on that below). If you have not applied, start with our step-by-step LIHEAP application guide and the LIHEAP income limits for your household size.

Where does water bill assistance come from now?

From the utility that bills you. Cities, counties, authorities and private companies run water service, and each sets its own programs. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reviewed 795 utilities and found 365 customer assistance programs. Bill discounts were the most common kind, offered by 155 of them.

That EPA review is from 2016, so the count is old, but the categories it used still describe what you will find when you call. We have added a sixth row for the outside charities that work alongside utilities.

Type of help	What it does	Utilities offering it in EPA’s 2016 review
Bill discount	Takes a percent or fixed amount off every bill for income-qualified customers	155
Flexible terms	Payment plans, levelized billing, waived late fees	98
Temporary assistance	One-time or crisis grants toward a past-due balance	87
Water efficiency	Free leak repairs, low-flow fixtures or audits	32
Lifeline rate	A low price for a basic amount of water each month	5
Outside charity funds	Grants from 211 partners, United Ways and community action agencies	Not counted by EPA

Two things follow from this. First, the name changes from place to place: “customer assistance program,” “CAP,” “affordability discount,” “billing relief,” “hardship fund.” Ask for all of them by name when you call.

Second, who bills you decides what you can get. If your water comes from the city, city programs apply. If it comes from a private company like American Water, Aqua or Cal Water, that company’s programs apply, and a state utility commission usually sets its shutoff rules.

Which water companies offer low-income discounts?

Many large utilities do; we confirmed these on November 3, 2026. Many use 200% of the federal poverty level as the income line (DC Water’s upper tiers go higher), and several accept SNAP, Medicaid, SSI or LIHEAP approval as proof. Not listed? Ask your utility: “Do you have a low-income discount?”

DC Water Customer Assistance Program (Washington, D.C.)

DC Water runs four tiers. The deepest, CAP+, discounts the first 4,500 gallons a month, worth about $131 a month. CAP1 covers the first 3,000 gallons (about $101 a month), and CAP2 the first 2,250 gallons (about $67).

CAP3 takes 75% off the monthly stormwater fee, called CRIAC, worth about $18 a month. DC Water says yearly discounts range from $218 to $1,572. The city’s Department of Energy and Environment checks income; call 202-350-9649.

For a household of four, the fiscal 2027 limits posted by the city’s Department of Energy and Environment are $33,220 for CAP+, $121,200 for CAP1, $132,900 for CAP2 and $166,100 for CAP3. DC Water’s own page still showed the 2026 table when we checked, so confirm with DOEE when you apply.

New Jersey American Water Universal Affordability Discount

This discount takes 15% to 60% off both the fixed service charge and the usage charge. It is tiered by income: households at or below 50% of the poverty level get 60% off, 51% to 100% get 45%, 101% to 150% get 30%, and 151% to 200% get 15%.

California Water Service (Cal Water) Customer Assistance Program

Cal Water gives a fixed monthly discount equal to 50% of the service charge for a standard 5/8 x 3/4-inch meter. You qualify if anyone in the home gets CalFresh, CalWORKs, CARE, LIHEAP, Medi-Cal, SSI, WIC or a few other programs.

You can also qualify on income alone. The limits in effect from June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027 are $43,280 for one or two people, $54,640 for three and $66,000 for four, plus $11,360 for each additional person. Apply online with your account number and ZIP code, or email cap@calwater.com.

Chicago Utility Billing Relief

Chicago’s program cuts water, sewer and water-sewer tax rates by 50%. While you are enrolled there are no late penalties or debt collection. Stay a full year with no new past-due balance and the city forgives your old unpaid balance.

It is for homeowners who live in a single-family home, two-flat or three-flat, according to CEDA, the city’s intake partner. Apply at utilitybill.chicago.gov or through a CEDA site. CEDA lists the limit as 30-day gross income of $8,250 for a household of four, which is 300% of poverty.

Detroit Lifeline H2O (waitlist only)

Detroit’s plan charges a flat $34 a month for water, sewerage and drainage, for up to 4,500 gallons, with shutoff protection while you keep paying. The income limit is 200% of poverty.

The catch: enrollment is full. New applicants can only join a waitlist at lifeline.detroitmi.gov. People already enrolled are covered through June 30, 2027, as long as they keep paying the monthly Lifeline bill. Join the list anyway, and use the payment and charity options below in the meantime.

WSSC Water Customer Assistance Program (Maryland)

WSSC Water serves Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. Its CAP gives a credit of up to $319 a year on WSSC fees and permanently waives late fees. You apply through Maryland’s Office of Home Energy Programs at 800-332-6347, the same office that handles energy aid.

Philadelphia Water Department Tiered Assistance Program

Philadelphia uses one application for all of its water help, including TAP, its income-based plan. You can also qualify through a “special hardship” in the past 12 months, such as a job loss, serious illness, the death of the main earner, or a new person in the home.

Review takes about two months, and you are billed at normal rates until approval, so keep paying what you can. If you are facing shutoff, the city grants a 30-day delay to get the application in, and it will not shut off water while your application is under review.

The chart mixes different kinds of help on purpose. A discount repeats every month, while a grant is a single payment toward what you already owe. If you qualify for both kinds, apply for both: the grant clears the old balance and the discount keeps a new one from building up.

How can I get emergency help with a past-due water bill?

Ask your utility whether it has a hardship or crisis fund, then call 211. In parts of New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Philadelphia, named funds help pay a past-due water balance. Most require a bill already behind and income under a set limit.

• New Jersey American Water H2O Help to Others: grants of up to $500 toward overdue water or wastewater bills, run with the charity SHARES. Apply at sharesnation.org or call 1-877-652-9426. People on LIHEAP, SNAP, Medicaid, SSI or TANF may be automatically eligible.
• WSSC Water Fund (Maryland): up to $500 in a rolling 12-month period, usable more than once within that cap. United Way of the National Capital Area runs it (202-488-2100). The limit is 200% of poverty, which is $66,000 for a family of four from July 1, 2026.
• DC Water SPLASH: one-time help of up to $350 if you face disconnection, through the Greater Washington Urban League at 202-265-8200.
• Atlanta Care and Conserve: bill help for renters and homeowners billed directly by the city. The account needs six billing cycles and at least $300 past due. Call (404) 546-3620.
• Aqua Aid: donation-funded grants for Aqua customers in Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania customers apply online through hardshiptools.org; the others call 877-987-2782.
• Utility Emergency Services Fund (Philadelphia): grants for city residents, including water customers who do not qualify for the city’s own programs. Call (215) 972-5170.

Outside those areas, the federal LIHWAP page points people to two places: 211 (dial 2-1-1 or visit unitedway.org) and your local community action agency, which you can look up at communityactionpartnership.com. Many of those agencies hold small private or local funds that can cover water.

Can I set up a payment plan on my water bill?

Almost always, if you ask before service is cut. Most utilities will split a past-due balance into monthly payments added to your regular bill. Expect a down payment: New Jersey American Water asks for 25% within 48 hours and spreads the rest over up to 12 months.

New York City works much the same way. To stop a shutoff, you pay in full or sign an agreement with a 25% down payment.

People 62 or older, people with a disability, homes with children under 6, and anyone with a serious medical condition can ask for a shutoff exemption and a smaller down payment. The collections line is 718-595-7890.

New York City also has a Water Debt Assistance Program for owner-occupied one- to three-family homes, which can put water debt on hold. Interest keeps building while the debt is deferred, so treat it as breathing room, not forgiveness.

Philadelphia offers payment agreements to customers who don’t qualify for its discount programs but owe a large bill. Call (215) 685-6300 and ask for Water Revenue.

Two tips make a plan stick. Ask for a payment you can actually make every month, even if the plan runs longer. And ask whether late fees stop while you are on it; some programs, such as WSSC Water’s CAP and Chicago’s Utility Billing Relief, waive them.

What if a leak caused a huge water bill?

Ask your utility for a leak adjustment right away, and fix the leak first. Many utilities credit part of a bill run up by a hidden leak, but they set firm rules: proof of repair, a deadline to ask, and a limit on how often you can use it.

New York City’s Leak Forgiveness Program is a good example. Your leak bill must be at least double your normal bill. You must fix the leak and ask in writing within 120 days. The city then forgives half of the high bill, but the final bill can’t drop below 150% of your typical one, and it works once every two years.

Keep the plumber’s invoice, a parts receipt or photos of the repair in case your utility asks for proof that the leak is fixed.

If the leak is in the pipe between the street and your house, the cost can dwarf the bill. Philadelphia’s Homeowners Emergency Loan Program offers a zero-interest repair loan when inspectors issue a notice of defect for a leaking water line or sewer lateral. Ask your city whether it offers anything similar.

Some utilities also offer conservation help to customers in their discount program. Philadelphia provides water-saving devices and education to TAP households, after an assessment of leaks and wasteful fixtures. The city says repairing leaks and changing habits can save about $12 on each bill.

Can the water company shut off my water if I can’t pay?

Yes, but only after notice, and the rules depend on your state and on who owns the utility. California has some of the strongest protections. Pennsylvania lets non-heating water service be shut off even in winter. Check your notice for the date and act before it, because restoring service usually costs more.

California: the Water Shutoff Protection Act

California’s law (Health and Safety Code 116900 and following, from SB 998) says a water system cannot shut off a home until a bill is at least 60 days late. It must contact you at least seven business days before.

Since August 1, 2024, the law applies to all community water systems, not just the large ones. Shutoff is barred if three things are true: a doctor or other primary care provider certifies a shutoff would be life threatening, you can’t pay within the normal billing cycle, and you agree to a payment plan.

You count as unable to pay if someone at home gets CalWORKs, CalFresh, General Assistance, Medi-Cal, SSI/SSP or WIC, or if household income is under 200% of poverty. For those households, reconnection fees are capped at about $50 during business hours and about $150 after hours (the caps rise with inflation each year).

The same households get late interest waived once every 12 months. Our California utility help page covers CARE and energy aid; CARE enrollment also qualifies you for Cal Water’s discount above.

Pennsylvania: notice rules, no winter ban for water

Pennsylvania’s Public Utility Commission requires a 10-day notice. After it, the utility has up to 60 days to shut off service and must try to contact you three days before. It cannot shut off water on a Friday.

Ordinary water service that is not used to heat the home can be shut off between December 1 and March 31 at any income level. A signed medical certificate from a physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner stops a shutoff for up to 30 days and can be renewed, but the bill is still owed.

The state’s LIHEAP pages are separate; see Pennsylvania utility shutoff rules and crisis grants for the energy side.

New Jersey: seasonal protection for eligible customers

New Jersey’s Seasonal Termination Program, run by the state Department of Community Affairs, protects eligible customers from water and sewer shutoffs from November 15 through March 15 and from June 15 through August 31.

You qualify if you get HEAP, TANF, SSI, PAAD, General Assistance, Universal Service Fund or Lifeline help, or cannot pay because of job loss, illness, medical bills, a death in the family or a similar hardship. Protection is not automatic: tell your utility you are eligible, and keep paying what you can.

Other states set their own rules, and city-owned systems are often not regulated by the state utility commission. Look on your shutoff notice for the shutoff date and a number to dispute the bill. If your water company is privately owned, your state utility commission can tell you which shutoff rules apply.

What if my water is included in my rent, or my landlord stops paying?

If water is in your rent, utility programs usually can’t help, because the account is in your landlord’s name. Your help then comes through rent aid. If your landlord holds the account and stops paying, some states let tenants keep the water on and deduct those payments from rent.

Most discount programs require the bill in your name. Atlanta’s Care and Conserve, for example, serves customers billed directly by the city, and Chicago’s relief program is for homeowners. If water is in your rent and the rent is the problem, look at emergency rental assistance instead.

If you have a Housing Choice Voucher and pay water or sewer yourself, federal rules (24 CFR 982.517) require your housing agency to give you a utility allowance that counts those costs.

If your water rates rose sharply, ask the agency whether its allowance schedule is current. Our Section 8 housing guide explains how the allowance lowers your share of rent.

When a landlord stops paying the water bill, California’s law requires the water system to make a good faith effort to give tenants written notice at least 10 days before a shutoff (at least 7 days for a detached single-family home).

Tenants can then become customers without paying the landlord’s debt, and they may deduct those water payments from rent.

Pennsylvania’s Utility Service Tenants Rights Act works similarly. The utility must keep or restore service if tenants pay an amount equal to the landlord’s bill for the 30 days before the notice, and tenants may take those payments off their rent.

In Pennsylvania, a landlord who retaliates can owe two months’ rent or actual damages, whichever is more.

How do I apply for water bill assistance, step by step?

Find out who bills you, call that utility’s customer service line and ask for every assistance program by name, then apply for the discount and any crisis grant at the same time. Bring proof of income and residence. If a shutoff date is near, ask for a payment agreement on the same call.

1. Read the top of your bill. The company name and customer service number tell you whether a city, an authority or a private company runs your water. That decides which programs and shutoff rules apply.
2. Call and use the right words. Ask: “Do you have a low-income discount, a customer assistance program, a hardship fund or a payment plan?” Write down each program’s name and the person you spoke with.
3. Check whether a benefit you already get qualifies you. Cal Water accepts CalFresh, Medi-Cal and SSI approval. New Jersey American Water treats SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, LIHEAP and TANF as possible automatic eligibility. Keep a recent award letter handy.
4. Gather documents once. Philadelphia’s checklist is typical: a photo ID or other proof you live there, names and birth dates for everyone in the home, and one proof of each income source, such as a pay stub, Social Security letter or benefits statement.
5. Apply for the discount and the grant together. A grant clears the past-due amount; the discount stops it from growing back. Ask whether you can receive both.
6. Keep paying something. Philadelphia warns that you are billed at normal rates while your application is processed, which takes about two months there. A small payment shows good faith and keeps the balance from growing.
7. Call 211 if the utility has nothing. Ask specifically for water or sewer help, and ask for your local community action agency.

If you are turned down, ask how to appeal. Philadelphia gives you 60 days from the denial letter to petition its Tax Review Board. Other utilities have their own dispute process, usually printed on the back of the bill.

Is there water bill assistance for seniors and people with disabilities?

Yes, though it often comes through programs you already use rather than a separate senior water program. Property tax exemptions, SSI and Medicaid approval, and medical certificates can all open doors. New York City, for example, credits $191 automatically to qualifying older and disabled homeowners.

New York City’s Home Water Assistance Program credits $191 to owners of one- to four-family homes who got a HEAP regular heating benefit for 2025 to 2026, or the Senior Citizen Homeowners’ Exemption (SCHE), the Disabled Homeowners’ Exemption (DHE) or the veterans exemption.

No application is needed; the credit appears on your next bill.

Several discount programs accept SSI or Medicaid approval in place of income paperwork, which saves a step for many older adults. Cal Water and New Jersey American Water both list them.

A medical condition can also slow or stop a shutoff. California and Pennsylvania accept a medical provider’s certificate, and New York City lets people 62 or older or with a disability ask for a shutoff exemption and a lower down payment. Ask your utility for its medical certification form before the shutoff date.

Many older homeowners are also eligible for energy help through LIHEAP, which can free money for the water bill. Our seniors hub and disability benefits hub list other programs worth checking.

What should I do in the first 48 hours after a water shutoff notice?

Call the number on the notice the same day. Ask for a payment agreement, ask what assistance programs exist, and ask whether a medical certificate or pending application will delay the shutoff. Then call 211 for a crisis grant. Acting before the shutoff date costs far less than reconnecting.

Write down the shutoff date, the balance the utility says will stop it, and the name of everyone you talk to. If a household member has a serious medical condition, tell the utility on the first call and ask for the certification form.

If your income is low, apply for the discount program on the same day. In Philadelphia, a customer facing shutoff gets 30 days to submit the application, and water stays on while it is under review. Ask your own utility whether a pending application pauses a shutoff.

If service is already off, ask what it takes to restore it. Reconnection usually requires a payment toward the balance plus a fee, and in California the fee is capped for low-income households. A crisis grant from the list above can often cover the reconnection amount.

Water help also tends to come alongside food and health benefits. If money is tight enough to fall behind on water, check whether you qualify for SNAP food benefits, since SNAP approval alone opens several of the water programs above.

Related reading

• Utility bill help: energy, weatherization and payment programs
• LIHEAP: heating, cooling and crisis aid
• How to check your LIHEAP application status
• Pennsylvania LIHEAP amounts and dates
• New York HEAP dates and income limits
• How to apply for SNAP