It can feel overwhelming to pay this month’s water bill knowing you have four or five others outstanding. But you can change that, and in some cases erase your water bill debt, if you qualify for our water bill assistance programs.

For example, our Tiered Assistance Program (TAP) is helping thousands of Philadelphians pay their past-due water bills. You can benefit too. Water bill debt forgiveness is a unique feature of TAP.

This City program is designed to help low-income residents pay off their water, sewer, and stormwater debts. Higher income households with a special hardship, such as losing your job, may still qualify.

When you submit your application for water bill help, we review it and offer you the program that provides you the most savings. For customers that qualify for TAP:

• We will set your water bill to the same amount every month, and
• After you pay 24 TAP bills, we will wipe out your past water bill balances.

How it works

When we forgive your debt, we erase all existing charges on your account before joining TAP. This includes all penalties and principal. Customers who enrolled in TAP before September 2020 may notice the penalties disappearing from their accounts before the principal is cleared.

Read this flyer for details on how our water debt forgiveness program works. TAP doesn’t only erase your debt; it lowers your monthly water bill, regardless of usage.

Many ways to apply

Signing up for water bill assistance is easy. It only takes a single application to get you the help you need. You can apply online, in person, or by mail. But the fastest and easiest way to apply is online.

You don’t need a printer or scanner, just take a clear picture of your supporting documents with your phone and upload them to the online application. Remember to carefully review the application checklist before submitting your documents.

If you need help with your application or have questions, please call (215) 685-6300. You can also get help completing your application at over two dozen locations throughout Philadelphia. To find the closest location near you, visit Get help applying for lower water bills (govdelivery.com) or call (855) 827-8373 for help.

Customers enrolled in TAP should keep working towards debt forgiveness. You don’t need to reapply once accepted into the program.