Water Bill Help: Where to Get Assistance Now That Federal Water Aid Has Ended

What happened to federal water assistance

For a few years, there was a national program for water bills. Congress created the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program in 2021 as part of pandemic relief, with about $1.1 billion in total funding. States and tribes used it to pay past-due water and sewer bills and to prevent shutoffs.

That money was one-time funding, and it is gone. The HHS Administration for Children and Families, which ran LIHWAP at the federal level, says funding is no longer available for the program. State programs closed as their share ran out. California, for example, says its LIHWAP program ended on March 31, 2024, and is no longer accepting applications, according to the California Department of Community Services and Development.

The need has not gone away. In a December 2024 report to Congress, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated that 12.1 million to 19.2 million households lack access to affordable water service, and it listed a possible federal water assistance program as one option. We have not found any new federal water bill program that is funded and taking applications. If you see a website or caller promising a “federal water grant,” be careful. Real programs do not charge a fee to apply.

Water bill help from your utility

Your water utility is the best first stop for water bill help. Many cities and water companies run their own customer assistance programs, often paid for by the utility or by customer donations. What they offer differs a lot from place to place, so ask about each of these by name:

• Customer assistance program. A discount, a credit, or a monthly bill based on income for low-income customers.
• Senior or disability discount. Some utilities lower the base charge for older adults or people with disabilities.
• Payment plan. Spreads a past-due balance over several months while you keep paying the new bills.
• Budget billing. Evens out your bill so summer watering months do not hit all at once.
• Hardship or crisis fund. A one-time grant toward a past-due bill, sometimes run with a local charity.
• Leak adjustment. A partial credit after you fix a leak that caused a spike.

Call the customer service number on your bill, or look for a page called “assistance,” “affordability,” or “help paying your bill” on the utility’s website. Ask the representative to put any agreement in writing, and write down the date and the name of the person you spoke with.

If your water is billed together with sewer, trash, or stormwater charges, ask whether assistance covers all of them. Sewer charges are often larger than the water charge itself.

City and state programs worth knowing

These examples show what local water help can look like. Each was checked on the official city or state website. If you live somewhere else, your own utility may have something similar under a different name.

Philadelphia

The City of Philadelphia uses one application for all of its water assistance programs, built for low-income customers, seniors, and people with a special hardship such as job loss or serious illness. The city says customers in danger of shutoff get a 30-day delay to apply, and water is not shut off while the application is being reviewed. Review takes about two months, so the city advises paying what you can in the meantime. Partner sites can help you apply in person, and grants may also be available through the Utility Emergency Services Fund.

Detroit

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department runs Lifeline H2O for account holders with household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. That is about $31,920 a year for one person using the 2026 HHS guidelines. The city says enrollment is currently full and invites residents to sign up for updates on when applications reopen. Detroit’s experience is a good reminder that local funds can fill up, so it pays to ask early and get on any waiting list.

Can LIHEAP pay a water bill?

Usually not. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps with home energy costs, such as heating and cooling bills and energy crises. Water and sewer are not energy bills, which is why Congress set up LIHWAP as a separate program. If your state LIHEAP office tells you it can help with a water-related cost, get that in writing, because this is not the norm.

LIHEAP can still free up money for water. If it pays part of your heating or electric bill, you have more left for the water bill. The LIHEAP income cap is 150% of the poverty level or 60% of state median income, whichever is higher, and crisis help must start within 48 hours, or 18 hours in a life-threatening situation. Many of the community action agencies that took LIHEAP applications also ran LIHWAP, so their staff often know about any local water funds. Read our LIHEAP guide to apply.

Charities and local agencies that may help

When the utility cannot do enough, local charities sometimes pay part of a past-due water bill, especially when a shutoff notice is involved. Funds are limited and often run out late in the month, so call early.

• 211. Dial 211 or visit 211.org. Ask specifically for “water bill assistance” and give your ZIP code. 211 keeps lists of local funds that are hard to find online.
• The Salvation Army. Many local offices help with utility bills when funds allow. Search the Salvation Army location finder by ZIP code. Our guide to Salvation Army help with utility bills explains what to expect.
• Catholic Charities. Local agencies offer emergency financial help in many areas, open to people of any faith. Use the Catholic Charities agency finder.
• Community action agencies. These local nonprofits run anti-poverty programs in nearly every county. Find yours through the Community Action Partnership.
• Churches and mutual aid groups. Small, local, and often quick, though amounts are usually modest.
• Area agency on aging. Older adults can ask about emergency funds and senior utility discounts.

Bring your most recent water bill, any shutoff notice, photo ID, and proof of income. Most charities pay the utility directly rather than giving you cash.

Shutoff protections and medical certificates

There is no single national rule for water shutoffs. Protections come from state law, city rules, or the utility’s own policy, so they vary widely. Common protections include:

• Written notice before service is cut off, with the amount owed and a date to act by.
• Medical certificates. A doctor’s note that a shutoff would endanger someone in the home can delay or stop a shutoff in some places.
• Weather or holiday limits in some cities or states.
• Payment plan rights, where agreeing to a plan stops the shutoff.
• A right to dispute the bill before service is cut.

California’s rules as an example

California has one of the most detailed laws. According to the State Water Resources Control Board, the Water Shutoff Protection Act covers community water systems, meaning those with at least 15 connections or 25 year-round residents. Its official FAQ says systems must:

• Not shut off water until a payment is at least 60 days late, and give written notice first.
• Not shut off water when there is a threat to a resident’s life or health and safety, the customer faces severe financial hardship, and the customer is willing to enter an alternative payment plan.
• Offer deferred or reduced payment plans, alternative payment schedules, and a formal way to contest or appeal a bill.
• Limit reconnection fees to $50 during normal hours and $150 after hours for customers below 200% of the poverty level or who receive CalWORKs, CalFresh, general assistance, Medi-Cal, SSI/SSP, or WIC, and waive interest on late bills once every 12 months for those customers.

Other states have different rules, and some have very few. Ask your utility for its written shutoff policy, and ask your state public utility commission whether it regulates your water provider. City-owned water systems are often not regulated by the state commission, so the city council or water board may be the place to appeal.

Leak adjustments for a sudden high bill

A sudden jump in your water bill is often a leak. The EPA’s WaterSense program says leaks in an average home can waste about 9,400 gallons a year. A running toilet or a broken pipe in the yard can waste far more in a single billing cycle.

To check for a leak, turn off every faucet and appliance that uses water, then look at your water meter. If the meter is still moving, water is going somewhere. Common culprits are toilet flappers, dripping faucets, outdoor hoses, irrigation systems, and water heaters.

Many utilities offer a one-time leak adjustment that credits part of the extra charge once the leak is fixed. Rules vary, but utilities often ask for:

• A plumber’s invoice or receipts for parts showing the repair.
• A request within a set number of days after the high bill.
• Proof that usage went back to normal after the repair.

Sewer charges are often based on water use, so ask whether the adjustment also lowers the sewer part of the bill. Water that leaked outside never reached the sewer.

Disputing a bill you think is wrong

If there is no leak and the bill still looks wrong, you can ask for a review. Billing errors happen, especially with estimated readings or broken meters.

1. Compare readings. Check whether the bill says “estimated” and compare the meter reading on the bill with the number on your meter.
2. Call and ask for a bill review. Ask the utility to re-read or test the meter. Some charge a fee for a meter test that is refunded if the meter is faulty.
3. Put it in writing. Send a short letter or email with your account number, the bill date, and why you think it is wrong. Keep a copy.
4. Pay the part you do not dispute. This shows good faith and may protect you from a shutoff while the review happens.
5. Appeal if needed. Ask about a formal hearing, the city water board, or your state public utility commission if your provider is regulated.

Renters and water in the landlord’s name

Many renters pay for water through the landlord, either inside the rent or as a separate charge. If the landlord falls behind and the utility threatens a shutoff, tenants may have rights to be notified and, in some places, to open an account in their own name without paying the landlord’s debt. California’s law, for example, requires notice to tenants of individually metered homes and lets them become customers without paying the delinquent amount.

If your rent includes water, a past-due water bill is your landlord’s responsibility. Contact your local legal aid office or 211 if service is threatened. If you pay a separate water charge to your landlord, ask for a copy of the bill it is based on. For rent and utility help together, see our utility relief programs guide.

Steps to take this week

Here is a simple order to work through, whatever your situation.

1. Call your utility and ask about every assistance option by name.
2. Get any payment plan in writing and set reminders for each due date.
3. Dial 211 for local water funds and charity help.
4. Apply for LIHEAP and SNAP if you qualify, to free up money for water.
5. Check for leaks and fix them before the next billing cycle.

Related guides

• Emergency help with utility bills
• LIHEAP energy assistance
• Utility relief programs
• Catholic Charities utility bill assistance

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information. Water assistance programs, shutoff rules, and fees are set by states, cities, and individual utilities and can change. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with any utility or government agency.