Water districts urged to sign on to program to help low-income ratepayers

The federal Office of Community Services is urging all water districts, particularly those serving large populations of low-income residents, to participate in a program to help low-income water and wastewater ratepayers.

An estimated $16 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding is available to Massachusetts for the Low-Income Home Water Assistance Program until the close of the year, and water districts are urged to sign on to the program as soon as possible to ensure that funding is programmed by Sept. 30, 2023.

Eligible ratepayers can access funding to offset service charges, pay past-due bills, and/or restore service. The water program is overseen by the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

To participate, water districts must have a vendor agreement in place with the local administrative agency. Water districts are advised to contact the local LIHEAP/LIHWAP agency as soon as possible to set up the vendor agreement. A list of LIHEAP agencies by town is available at hedfuel.azurewebsites.net.

The Massachusetts LIHWAP grant implementation plan is available online.

For more information, contact Ed Kiely at edward.kiely@state.ma.us.