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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 application period for the Extended Arrearage Program is now closed. The application period for the Program ran from November 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023. Late applications were accepted through January 31, 2024. All eligible Applicants received 100% of the eligible amount requested, as the total amount requested in the applications was less than the total amount of available funds for the Program.

Disbursement of funds has been completed as of May 8, 2024. Applicants must apply the bill credits to the customer accounts within 60 days of receiving the funds. Any amount not credited or used must be returned to the State within 6 months of receiving the funds along with the reporting requirement documents.

  Application and Forms

Extended Water and Wastewater Arrearage Program

  • Reporting Requirements Certification Form
    The Reporting Requirement Certification Form and Accounts Spreadsheet must be completed after applying customer bill credits and within 6 months of the receipt of funds. The completed form can be emailed to DFA-WaterArrearages@waterboards.ca.gov
  • Reporting Requirements Accounts Spreadsheet and Admin Costs
    The completed Accounts Spreadsheet and Admin Costs reporting form can be emailed to DFA-WaterArrearages@waterboards.ca.gov
  • Extended Arrearage Application
    The application period for the Extended Arrearage Program is now closed. Bill credits should be applied to customer accounts within 60 days of receipt of funds.
  • Application Preview
    This application preview in for informational purposes only and should be used to gather the required information and prepare the required documents in advance of the online application being open. Applicants must submit their application online once the application period opens. Emailed, or mailed Application Preview forms will not be accepted as an application for the Program.
  • 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.
  • Authorized Representative Delegation Form
    This form may be used if a delegation of signature authority is necessary. See the Signatory Requirements Guidelines for a list of authorized signatories, and other approved delegation documentation.
  • Disbursement Request Form
    This form must be filled out in its entirety. The form must have a wet signature and must be mailed to the State Water Board.
  • Conditions of Payment Form
    This form must be filled out in its entirety. The form must have a wet signature and must be mailed to the State Water Board.
  • Sample Accounts Spreadsheet
    This spreadsheet may be used to list the accounts in arrears for funding that is requested. This sample spreadsheet is not mandatory to be used, however an MS Excel spreadsheet containing the accounts information is mandatory as part of the application.
  • Mailing Address for Documents
    • State Water Resources Control Board
      Division of Financial Assistance
      Extended Water Arrearage Program
      1001 I Street, 17th Floor
      Sacramento, CA 95814

  FAQs and Other Documents

Adopted Extended Arrearage Program Guidelines 10-3-2023

Current List of Submitted Applications

Customer Information

FAQs for the Extended Arrearage Program

  Past Events

Extended Water and Wastewater Arrearage Program

  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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