Phoenix Stalls Plan To Restart Water Shutoffs For Past Due Bills

PHOENIX, AZ — The city has backtracked on its plan to resume shutting off water service for customers with past-due bills.

After restoring service to delinquent customers at the start of the pandemic in March 2020, the city had recently announced a plan to begin to begin shutting off water service for customers who have bills more than 31 days past due, starting in February.

But the city put that plan on hold Wednesday, according to a news release, because of rising cases of COVID-19 in the city.

Right now, 17,000 residential water customers in Phoenix with past-due bills owe around $10 million to the city.

The city provide what it calls "low-flow service" for delinquent customers who do not participate in city assistance plans. Customers with low-flow water service get reduced water pressure.

Customers with past-due bills or who cannot afford to pay their bills can call customer service at 602-262-6251 to pay the balance or to find out about assistance programs.

At present, Phoenix Water Services will pay two-thirds of an outstanding city services bill, for qualifying accounts, once the customer pays one-third of the bill.