CA Washes Away Water Bills For 4 Million People

CALIFORNIA — Four million Californians have had their unpaid water and wastewater utility debt washed away thanks to the state's debt relief program.

They will soon see the payments in the form of a credit on their water bills.

The state's Water and Wastewater Arrearages Payment Program, which began in 2021, distributed more than $880 million to over 1.3 million households and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday.

The latest round of funding went out this spring and disbursed $445 million to systems throughout the state that are now applying credits to customers' bills. Overall 944 community water systems, serving 96 percent of the state's population, participated in the program.

“The Governor’s swift action in the early days of the pandemic kept taps on for millions of struggling Californians,” said Yana Garcia, California Secretary for Environmental Protection. “The extension of the moratorium on water shutoffs and the distribution of critical funding to water systems to forgive debt helped about 4 million Californians get back on their feet.”

The arrearages program initially only covered water bill debt that was accrued between March 2020 and June 2021, but expanded to cover wastewater debt as well. It was then restarted to extend the timeline through December 2022.

"All levels of government demonstrated decisive and cooperative action during California’s COVID-19 response to protect people during a crisis and hasten their recovery from it,” said E. Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the State Water Board. “I’m proud of the role the board played in this incredible effort by mobilizing a major program and providing the first wave of debt relief within months."

The city of Los Angeles received the lion's share — nearly 30 percent of the funds to help the LA Department of Water and Power and LA City Sanitation. More than 204,000 customers in the city had their water and wastewater bills cleared, officials said.

"The State’s support for our customers has been a lifeline for them," said LADWP CEO and Chief Engineer Janisse Quiñones. "Over the past four years we have provided more than $700 million in utility assistance funds, including the $253 million in funding from the Water and Wastewater Arrearages Program, but we know that financial recovery from the pandemic continues for many in our city."