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California Extended Water and Wastewater Arrearage Payment Program

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for many Californians to pay their bills due to job loss and other hardships. As a result, systems that provide water services to customers have been financially impacted.

Through $985 million in federal funding allocated by the state legislature, the State Water Board created the California Water and Wastewater Arrearages Payment Program to provide relief to community water and wastewater systems for unpaid bills related to the pandemic. The funding covered water debt from residential and commercial customers accrued between March 4, 2020 and June 15, 2021. The application period ended on April 1, 2022, and the State Water Board disbursed over $385 million to water and wastewater systems for residential and commercial arrearages.

On July 10, 2023, Governor Newsom signed a budget trailer bill expanding the Arrearages Program. This new Extended Water and Wastewater Arrearage Payment Program extends the COVID Relief Period to December 31, 2022, with the state legislature allocating the remaining $600 million in federal funding for this Program. The new Extended Arrearage Program will include both water and wastewater debt from residential and commercial customers.

The Extended Arrearage Program will have a 60-day application period for both water and wastewater arrearages, and disbursement of funds will begin immediately after. The application period is estimated to begin around November 2023.

  What's New

Extended Water and Wastewater Arrearage Program

  Forms and FAQs

  • Government Agency Taxpayer ID Form
    • Applicant is Government Agency Only. The Principal Government Agency Name field must match exactly with that of the applicant’s name as registered with the federal IRS. The Remit-To Address must be the address where the arrearage disbursement check will be mailed to.

  • Non-Government Agency Taxpayer ID Form
    • Applicant is Non-Government Entity Only. The Name field on the Payee Data Record form must match exactly with that of the applicant’s name as registered with the federal IRS. The mailing address must be the address where the arrearage disbursement check will be mailed to.

  Events and Deadlines

Extended Water and Wastewater Arrearage Program

  • Public Comment Period on proposed Guidelines:  
    Friday, August 25, 2023, to Monday, September 25, 2023. 
    • The deadline to submit comments is 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Monday, September 25, 2023 
    • Public Notice
  • Information Webinar Public Workshop on the proposed Guidelines: Thursday, September 21, 2023, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Board Consideration of Adoption Meeting for adoption of the Guidelines: Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at 9:30 a.m.

  Quick Links

Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Prevention

Original Water Arrearage Program Page (for reference only)

Original Wastewater Arrearage Program Page (for reference only)

  Stay informed

Extended Water and Wastewater Arrearage Payment Program - Email Subscription List

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