Philadelphia Extends Water Shutoff Pause Through September
Customers unable to pay should make payment agreements or apply for assistance.
PHILADELPHIA—The Philadelphia Water Department and Water Revenue Bureau will not shut off customers unable to pay water bills through September 30, 2020. This extends a pause on shutoffs that began in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic .
While water services will not be terminated for nonpayment, past-due balances will continue to grow. Customers are encouraged to apply for help immediately at phila.gov/waterbillhelp or by calling (215) 685-6300 to avoid a large bill when shutoffs resume.
The Tiered Assistance Program allows qualifying customers to get discounted water rates and have past-due bills removed from the collections process. Any customer experiencing a special hardship should apply.
Unexpected medical bills, unemployment, or the loss of a family member may be considered a special hardship. All applications are decided case-by-case.
Customers who do not qualify for assistance should set up a payment agreement by speaking with representatives at (215) 685-6300 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Due to the number of customers in need, assistance is more flexible than ever. Some customers may have a lower down payment and more time to pay.
All account holders are still required to pay their bills and should do so if possible. Water bills fund vital infrastructure investments in Philadelphia.
Note: Customers may experience longer processing times for assistance applications while staff resources are limited. The Water Department hotline is open for emergencies. Call wait times may be longer due to safety measures for staff.
General updates:
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