NEW YORK — On Monday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala launched a temporary water bill amnesty program to help New Yorkers save up to $150 million in interest when they pay their past due water bills.
The limited-time program will forgive up to 100 percent of interest when customers pay some or all of their outstanding water bills.
With nearly 200,000 customers owing a combined $1.2 billion in water bill charges to DEP, this program will help New Yorkers pay off debt and save money, while ensuring the City can continue to invest in and maintain water infrastructure. critical city water.
“As New Yorkers continue to recover financially from the pandemic, we are helping nearly 200,000 of our city’s water customers keep up to $150 million in their pockets when they resolve their debts through this water bill relief program,” he said. Mayor Adams. “This water amnesty program will allow property owners to pay off their debts at a reduced cost, while providing the Department of Environmental Protection with the funds needed to operate the city’s vital water supply and treatment system. I encourage all eligible customers to take advantage of this limited-time savings program that we are proud to offer.”
The amnesty program, authorized by the New York City Water Board, will only last for 90 days, from January 30, 2023 to April 30, 2023.
There are nearly 200,000 DEP customers with delinquent water bills, who owe a combined amount of $1.2 billion, and approximately 85 percent of that debt comes from residential property.
“Many residents are still reeling from the devastating impact that COVID-19 has had on our communities and are struggling to make ends meet,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “I want to thank the Department of Environmental Protection for implementing this important amnesty program that will support thousands of New Yorkers as they try to get back on their feet.”
For customers with a seriously delinquent balance of more than $1,000 for more than one year, DEP will offer three amnesty options:
- If 100 percent of the primary bill is paid, 100 percent of interest will be forgiven;
- If 50 percent of the primary bill is paid, 75 percent of interest will be forgiven; either
- If 25 percent of the primary bill is paid, 50 percent of the interest will be forgiven.
Customers who owe less than $1,000 are still eligible to receive 100 percent interest amnesty if they pay the bill in full.
All customers who participate in the water amnesty program and have an outstanding balance remaining will be required to enter into a payment agreement with DEP.
Data shows that 85 percent of customers who establish a payment plan stick with it and successfully pay off their debt.
To help low-income customers who already participated in the Low-Income Homeowners Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) of New York State, DEP is offering up to an additional $30 million to assist these homeowners with forgiveness of up to $5,000 of their remaining delinquent balances.
“Almost one in four customers is behind on their water bill. This program gives New Yorkers who were left behind during the pandemic a way to catch up and save money,” Alfonso L. Carney Jr., President of the New York City Water Board. “The money raised from this program is critical in helping us pay for the vital operation and maintenance of the city’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, as well as funding the critical investments and improvements we need.”
DEP supplies more than 1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water and treats 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater for more than 9 million New Yorkers every day. Water system expenses, which include maintenance, repairs, and capital improvements, are funded directly by revenue collected from water bills.
DEP faces a growing balance of accounts receivable from delinquent accounts, threatening the operations and capital needs of a service without which the city could not survive. Customers pay about $0.01 per gallon in both water and sewer charges, and the average New York City household uses about 70,000 gallons of water per year, according to the mayor’s office.
