Behind on your water bills? What is LIHWAP and how can it help?

LIHWAP stands for the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program and it may be able to help you pay your water bill. LIHWAP is a federally funded program that offers low-income households a one-time payment to help pay residential water or wastewater costs. If you’re like many Californians struggling with higher costs on everything from food to gas, LIWHAP could help your family stop worrying about how to pay your water bill.

The amount of help that you could get will depend on your residential water bill. Households whose utility payments are included in their rent may also be eligible for LIHWAP. Recipients of CalFresh, CalWORKs, and LIHEAP are automatically income-qualified for LIHWAP assistance.

LIHWAP can offer a one-time payment to help you:

1. Pay your residential water and wastewater utility bills.
2. Manage an emergency or water crisis, such as a service disconnection.
3. Prevent other adverse effects such as debt collection or placement of liens.

If you are struggling to afford your residential water or wastewater bills, please visit csd.ca.gov/waterbill to see if you qualify for payment assistance through LIHWAP and to find a local service provider near you to apply.