COVID-19 Bill Assistance

All residential customers with debt accrued before June 1, 2022, are eligible for special 6-, 12-, or 18-month fee-free payment plans.

All debt accrued after June 1, 2022, is not eligible for this special financing plan and will be subject to normal collection practices, including water shut-offs, late fees and other penalties.

Sign up for your 6-, 12-, or 18- month extended payment plan using the form linked above on this page.

Your debt will be spread into equal monthly installments paid over 6-, 12- or 18- months, depending on your preference. For the duration of your plan, you will receive a special bill from OWASA in the mail and via email each month. This is what you must pay for the month, which includes the general monthly usage fees plus the payment-plan installment.

You may make additional payments or pay off your debt in full at any time. No late fees, interest, or penalties will be assessed on the debt that is part of the extended payment plan.  

For example:  

You have $500 in past-due OWASA bills and sign up for a 12-month payment plan. Your monthly installment will be $41.66. This installment amount will be added to your next 12 bills, until the debt is paid off.

You may pay your monthly water bill, including the monthly special payment plan installments online, via text-to-pay, in person, by check, or over the phone.

If you use automatic draft to pay your OWASA bill, the minimum amount owed will be drafted (monthly usage charges and special payment plan installment for the month).

More information on payment options is available here.

NOTE: To pay online, you will need to enter in the correct amount found on your mailed paper bill or emailed bill each month NOT the total amount due. Your monthly payment amount will include your monthly usage charges and special payment plan installment for the month.

If you miss an installment of your extended payment plan, the entire payment plan will be voided and the entire amount will be due with your next bill. Missing an installment of your payment plan will count as a first missed payment. If the next payment is missed (for the entire amount), you will be subject to service disconnection.

There is support available from several sources to help customers pay down overdue water bills to avoid a water shut-off.

Payments that exceed the minimum charge (installment feed + monthly charge) will be applied to older balances to reduce the number of installments. No fees or penalties will be assessed.

Debt accrued after May 31, 2022, is not eligible for the special COVID-19 extended payment plan. Standard collection practices, including water shut-offs, will apply. Under standard collection practices, a customer is subject to service disconnection after missing payment on two consecutive bills. 

There is support available from several sources to help customers pay down overdue water bills to avoid a water shut-off. 

No interest fees, late-payment fees, or penalties will be assessed for the special payment plan. However, starting June 1, 2022, OWASA will return to standard collection practices. This means late fees and penalties will be applied to late, regular monthly bills received after June 1, 2022.

The deadline for signing up for a special COVID-19 extended payment plan is July 31, 2022.

Here is a link to an example bill with a special COVD-19 extended payment plan. Link to example bill.

OWASA is partnering with the Refugee Community Partnership to provide translation services and assistance filling out the required forms in various languages. You can find more information about the Refugee Community Partnership on their website.