About $1.2 billion worth of unpaid water bills is threatening the operations of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the agency responsible for sewage management and flood protection.
The amnesty program offers three: 100% forgiveness on interest if the bill is paid in full, 75% forgiveness if half of the principal is paid, and 50% forgiveness if a quarter of the bill is paid. All customers in the amnesty program who have a remaining balance must also enter into a payment plan with the DEP.
“While most everything here costs more than anywhere, our water rates are well below those of many large American cities,” Aggarwala said. “We know we must manage our operations to keep water rates as low as possible. We must also ensure that revenue comes in reliably.” When the 90 day amnesty period ends next month, the DEP will begin enforcement actions, though the department hasn’t clarified what those steps might be. But if the city’s water bill debt continues to grow or go unpaid, it could lead to additional rate hikes for everyone and threaten investments in the city’s water infrastructure.
Water rates rose nearly 5% in 2023 to $4.30 per 100 cubic feet, or roughly a cent per gallon, which averages out to $40 per month for an apartment. In California, the average water bill isthat amount. The average annual water usage for a New York City household is about 70,000 gallons. “The amnesty program will not last forever,” Aggarwala said. “We will begin pursuing enforcement action against those ratepayers who still owe and who have not reached out to the DEP for assistance.”. To streamline the process and assist more customers, the DEP recently expanded its call center to include extended hours during evenings and Saturdays.
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