Low Income Household Water Assistance Program

​Illustrations of sink, washing machine, hose, bathtub, and toilet​

The new federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) provides financial assistance to low-income Californians to help manage their residential water utility costs. Established by Congress in December 2020, this federally f​unded program helps low-income households pay down their outstanding residential water or wastewater bills. California has been allocated $116 million in one​-time funding to provide LIHWAP assistance. ​


The Department of Community Services and Development (CSD) is the designated administering agency for LIHWAP in Ca​​lifornia. Through LIHWAP, CSD works with a network of community-based local service providers to help low-income households pay down their outstanding residential ​water and wastewater utility bills.​

For more information about how LIHWAP can help your household pay down your past due water or wastewater bills and how to apply visit LIHWAP Find Assistance​.​

Water System Direct P​ayment En​​​​rollment​​

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Enrollment for water and wastewater systems is now open for LIHWAP​. Water or wastewater systems must enro​​ll in LIHWAP direct payment agreements for their low-income customers to be able to participate. If you are a water or wastewater system, please take 2-3 minutes to submit an interest form. 

​Once you complete the interest form, CSD’s direct payment coordinator, HORN​E, will be in touch to complete the enrollment process.

LIHWAP Direct Payment Interest Form​​​​

How can LIHWAP help water and wastewater systems? 

The following video produced U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides information for water and wastewater systems about LIHWAP to build awareness and encourage participation. Participation from local water and wastewater systems is critical for the successful implementation of LIHWAP.

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Water or wastewater systems seeking additional information on LIHWAP can review the Water and Wastewater System E​nrollment Webinar.​​

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LIHWAP RESOURCES

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Events

CSD held a remote Public Meeting on November 29, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. to provide an overview of the Revised LIHWAP Program Guidelines.

CSD held a remote public meeting on July 29, 2021, to receive input on the California Low Income Household Water Assistance P​rogram (LIHWAP) State Plan. 

For assistance or questions regarding this meeting, please email ​LIHWAP@csd.ca.gov​.​​

Sign up for LIHWAP email ​updates​​​​

 

 

Paying My Energy Billshttps://www.csd.ca.gov/Pages/Assistance-PayingMyEnergyBills.aspxPaying My Energy Bills/PublishingImages/Pages/Home/Newest%20Thermostat%20v1.png
Community Serviceshttps://www.csd.ca.gov/Pages/Assistance-CommunityServices.aspxCommunity Services/PublishingImages/Pages/Home/CSBG%20Blue.png
Home Energy Efficiencyhttps://www.csd.ca.gov/Pages/Assistance-HomeEnergyEfficiency.aspxHome Energy Efficiency/PublishingImages/Pages/Home/Energy%20Efficiency%20green%20thick%20outline%20(1).png
Paying My Water Billshttps://www.csd.ca.gov/waterbillPaying My Water Bills/PublishingImages/LIHWAP%20Find%20Assistance%20Blue%20Circle.png

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