Financial relief for customers behind on water bills during pandemic

Program Now Extended thru March 31, 2024!

You can receive up to $15,000 assistance to pay your overdue water and wastewater bill!

Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP).

The federal Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) provides financial assistance to low-income Californians to help manage their residential water utility costs. Established by Congress in December 2020, this federally f​unded program helps low-income households pay down their outstanding residential water or wastewater bills. California has been allocated $116 million in one​-time funding to provide LIHWAP assistance. ​

The Department of Community Services and Development (CSD) is the designated administering agency for LIHWAP in Ca​​lifornia. Through LIHWAP, CSD works with a network of community-based local service providers to help low-income households pay down their outstanding residential ​water and wastewater utility bills.​

For more information about how LIHWAP can help your household pay down your past due water or wastewater bills and how to apply visit LIHWAP Find Assistance​.​

If you qualify for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) you may also qualify for up to $15,000 in assistance to pay your overdue water and wastewater bill under the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). To be eligible:

  • Your water and/or wastewater provider (such as EBMUD and ACWD) must be a LIHWAP participant.
  • You must be able to provide a government-issued photo ID.

LIHWAP residential customers are also PRE-QUALIFIED for the EBMUD Customer Assistance Program. 

Alameda County customers:
SpectrumCS 

Spectrum Community Services

Contact Spectrum to apply to both LIHWAP and LIHEAP at the same time. For the supplemental application form and to check eligibility, speak to a customer service representative call 510-881-0300. 

Energy services - https://spectrumcs.org/energy-services/liheap - If you are on LIHEAP you automatically qualify for LIHWAP

 
Contra Costa County customers:
Community Services Bureau in Contra costa county

Contra Costa County Employment & Human Services

Contact the Contra Costa County Community Services Bureau to apply for the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP).