City Announces Temporary Interest Amnesty Program for Overdue Water Bills

Mayor Eric Adams. Photo Credit: facebook.com/NYCMayor

On January 30, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala announced a temporary amnesty program for overdue water bills. The program will forgive the interest if a customer pays a portion or a whole outstanding water bill. Nearly 200,000 customers owe a total $1.2 billion in water bill charges to the Department of Environmental Protection. The money from water bill payments goes toward the maintenance, repairs and upgrades for the city’s water system, which supplies over a billion gallons of water and treats 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater daily. 

The program will run from January 30 to April 30th. Customers who owe $1,000 for over a year or more have three amnesty options. If the owner pays 100 percent of the principal bill, all of the interest will be forgiven. If 50 percent of the principal bill is paid, 75 percent of the interest will be forgiven. If 25 percent of the principal bill is paid, 50 percent of the interest will be forgiven. 

Customers who owe less than $1,000 can still receive full amnesty for the interest if they can pay their total principal bill. Any customer who participates in the amnesty program and has an outstanding balance will also be required to enter into a payment agreement with the Department of Environmental Protection. 

To confirm eligibility or receive more information, click here or call (718) 595-7000. 

In addition, the agency is helping low-income customers who also participated in the State’s Low Income Homeowner Water Assistance Program by offering up to $30 million to assist these homeowners for up to $5,000 of forgiveness toward their delinquent balances.

Mayor Adams stated, “As New Yorkers continue to recover financially from the pandemic, we are helping almost 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. This water amnesty program will enable property owners to settle their debts at a reduced cost, while providing the Department of Environmental Protection with the necessary funds 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 we’re proud to offer.”

New York City Water Board Chairman Alfonso L. Carney Jr. stated, “Nearly one in four customers is behind on their water bill. This program gives those New Yorkers who fell behind during the pandemic a way to catch up and save money. The money collected from this program is critical to 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 upgrades we need.”

By: Veronica Rose (Veronica is the CityLaw fellow and a New York Law School graduate, Class of 2018.)

 

 

 

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