NYC Water Bill Help 2026–27: DEP Credits, Debt Deferral and Leak Relief
Updated: 18 hours ago
NYC water bills arrive quarterly, so a leak or missed payment can grow for months before you notice. DEP has four relief programs for one- to four-family homeowners, and each works differently.
AT A GLANCE
|
A New York City water and sewer bill usually arrives once every three months, which means a problem can quietly grow for a full quarter before you see it. A running toilet, a missed payment while you were between jobs, or a lien-sale warning letter can turn an ordinary bill into a four-figure balance. The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has several relief programs for one- to four-family homeowners, but they work very differently. One is an automatic credit you never apply for. One freezes enforcement on old debt. One cuts a leak bill in half. And one is a payment agreement handled by a separate collections unit.
This guide takes the four in the order most homeowners need them, starting with the money you may already be owed. Every figure below comes from DEP's own program pages, read directly in October 2026.
Who This Guide Is For
DEP bills the property owner, not individual apartments, so these programs are built for owners. If you rent, your landlord pays the water bill, and the programs below are not yours to apply for. Tenants dealing with heat, hot water or utility shutoffs should see the NYC winter utility guide linked at the end.
Owners of larger affordable buildings have their own program, covered near the end.
Program 1: The Home Water Assistance Program (Automatic Credit)
The Home Water Assistance Program (HWAP) is the easiest money on this list because you don't fill out anything. DEP, the NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA) and the NYC Department of Finance (DOF) match records and pick qualifying homeowners. DEP says it selected more than 70,000 one- to four-family homeowners for the current round.
Who gets it
Your property must be a one-, two-, three- or four-family home, and you must meet at least one of these:
You received a HEAP Regular Heating Benefit for the 2025–2026 heating season.
You had an approved Senior Citizen Homeowners' Exemption (SCHE) from DOF as of March 2026.
You had an approved Disabled Homeowners' Exemption (DHE) from DOF as of March 2026.
You had an approved Veteran's Exemption for 2026.
What you get
Credits totaling $191.00 appear on the first DEP bill you receive after they're applied. Look for two line items: "NYC Home Water Assistance Credit" and "Home Water Assistance Program Plus."
What to do if you think you were missed
Because enrollment is automatic, the fix is upstream. HWAP eligibility depends on HEAP, SCHE, DHE or a Veteran's Exemption being on record. If you qualify for one of those but haven't applied, applying for the underlying benefit is the step that matters for future rounds. Our guide to NYC's senior and disabled homeowner exemptions (linked below) explains SCHE and DHE. If you believe you met the criteria and no credit appeared, call DEP Customer Service at 718-595-7000 and ask them to check your account.
Program 2: The Water Debt Assistance Program (Pause Enforcement on Old Debt)
The Water Debt Assistance Program (WDAP) is for owners who already have a delinquent balance and face lien sale or service termination. It does not erase debt. Instead, DEP removes the property from enforcement and defers the old balance.
Read the trade-off carefully before you sign:
The deferred debt keeps accruing interest.
You sign a binding agreement that the debt is valid and that you won't dispute it in an Article 78 proceeding or otherwise.
The deferred balance must be paid on or before the sale, transfer or refinancing of the property.
You must pay all current and future bills in full and on time, including the interest on the deferred balance. If you don't, you can be in default and the property can go into a later lien sale or service termination.
Basic eligibility
The property is Tax Class One (one-, two- and three-family homes, or one- and two-family homes with a store or office).
The property is owner-occupied.
You are not already in WDAP and have never participated before. This is a one-time program.
The hardship you must document
You must show that at least one of these applied within the 12 months before your application date. The kind of hardship also sets how long the deferral lasts.
Hardship | Proof DEP asks for | How long the deferral lasts |
|---|---|---|
Mortgage delinquency | Formal notice of serious delinquency from your mortgage lender | As long as you meet the agreement terms |
Low-income senior | DOF documentation showing enrollment in DOF's Low-Income Senior Plan | As long as you meet the agreement terms |
SNAP | Current approval letter | 1 year, with a possible 1-year renewal |
TANF | Current approval letter | 1 year, with a possible 1-year renewal |
SSDI | Benefit verification letter | 1 year, with a possible 1-year renewal |
Active military | Proof of active service | 1 year, with a possible 1-year renewal |
Incarceration | Corrections Department ID number or letter of incarceration | 1 year, with a possible 1-year renewal |
Unemployment | Benefit award letter from New York State | 1 year, with a possible 1-year renewal |
How to apply
Download the WDAP Customer Participation Application Form from DEP's WDAP page.
Gather a valid government-issued photo ID, your hardship document from the table, and proof of residency, meaning a recent utility bill showing your name and the service address.
Email the packet to WDAP@dep.nyc.gov, or bring it to any DEP borough office.
If you're accepted, DEP sets up an agreement for you to sign. DEP notes it may need access to your water meter to make sure billing is accurate.
Who WDAP fits, and who it doesn't
WDAP works best for an owner whose income has recovered enough to keep up with new bills but who can't clear the old balance. It's a poor fit if you can't pay current bills, because missing them puts you back into enforcement. It's also worth thinking twice if you plan to refinance soon, since the whole deferred balance, plus interest, comes due then.
WDAP does not erase debt. The deferred debt keeps accruing interest.
Program 3: Leak Forgiveness (Cut a Leak Bill in Half)
If one bill spiked because of a leak, the Leak Forgiveness Program may take off a large share. DEP now says all leaks are eligible, including toilets, sinks and showers.
The test
Your property must be billed on metered charges, and:
The leak cost at least 200% of a normal bill from a representative billing period. In some cases where meter data wasn't readily available, DEP lowers that to 150%.
You fixed the leak within 120 days of the date of the original bill that showed the high charge.
You sent a written request within those same 120 days.
You haven't received leak forgiveness in the last two years.
How much comes off
DEP forgives one half of the high bill amount, but what you owe for that bill won't drop below 150% of your typical bill.
How to request it
Do one of the following within the 120-day window:
Online: open a high bill dispute in your My DEP Account and use it to apply for leak forgiveness.
By mail: send a written request to BCS Correspondence—Leak Program, 59-17 Junction Blvd., 7th Floor, Flushing, NY 11373.
If your meter has a working automated meter reading (AMR) device, you don't need to prove the repair. If it doesn't, include a plumber's receipt.
If you missed the 120 days
DEP can extend the repair period by another 180 days if you send proof from a licensed plumber that the leak couldn't reasonably have been discovered within the original 120 days. DEP answers every written request in writing, and approved credits appear on your next bill.
Program 4: A Payment Agreement for What You Owe
If none of the programs above fits and you simply can't pay in full, DEP's Billing FAQs say to contact its collections unit to set up a payment agreement:
Phone: 718-595-7890
Email: collectionsunit@dep.nyc.gov
In person: any DEP borough office
While you're on an agreement you can still pay online, by phone, by check or in person. DEP's online and phone systems show the amount due to stay current on the agreement.
Think Your Bill Is Wrong? File a Dispute First
Not every high bill is a leak. DEP's Billing FAQs say customers who think a bill is inaccurate can submit a formal appeal, after which staff manually verify the bill and answer in writing. You can file a billing dispute and track it through your My DEP Account, or email Customer Service. If your bill was estimated because the AMR device didn't send a reading, compare the reading on your bill with the number on your meter before you dispute.
Contacts and Hours at a Glance
Need | Where to go | Details |
|---|---|---|
Questions, credits, disputes | DEP Call Center | 718-595-7000. Mon 8am–7pm, Tue–Fri 8am–6pm, Sat 9am–12pm |
Payment agreement | DEP collections unit | 718-595-7890 or collectionsunit@dep.nyc.gov |
WDAP application | DEP WDAP email | WDAP@dep.nyc.gov |
In-person help | Any borough office | Mon–Fri 9am–5pm, regardless of your borough |
Borough office addresses listed by DEP:
Bronx: 1932 Arthur Avenue, 6th Floor
Brooklyn: 345 Adams Street, 9th Floor
Manhattan: 55 West 125th Street, 9th Floor
Queens: 59-17 Junction Blvd, 9th Floor
Staten Island: 60 Bay Street, 6th Floor
The call center and borough offices close on some holidays. DEP posts a holiday closure list on its Customer Service page.
Small Habits That Prevent the Next Big Bill
Sign up for leak notifications. A free My DEP Account lets you track daily usage and get alerts. To register, you'll need your account number and activation token from your bill.
Pay by bank account, not card. DEP charges no fee for eBilling or bank payments, but debit and credit card payments carry a 2.25% convenience fee.
Check who pays. DEP notes that most mortgage companies no longer pay water bills for buildings under five families. Don't assume your escrow covers it.
Allow time for posting. Payments can take at least three business days to process.
For Owners of Affordable Multifamily Buildings
The Multi-family Water Assistance Program offers a $250 credit per residential unit to eligible HPD- or HDC-assisted projects, first come, first served. Projects must keep average rents affordable at 60% of Area Median Income, have a recorded HPD or HDC regulatory agreement with at least 15 years left covering all residential units, show efficient water use and be in good standing. Applications go through HPD's website.
Quick Decision Guide
Low income, senior, disabled or veteran homeowner? Check your last bill for the $191 HWAP credits, and apply for SCHE, DHE or HEAP if you haven't.
Old balance and a lien-sale or shutoff warning? Look at WDAP, but only if you can keep up with new bills.
One huge bill after a leak? Fix it and request leak forgiveness within 120 days.
Just behind? Call 718-595-7890 about a payment agreement.
WHAT TO DO THIS WEEK
|
More help in New York City
See every FSR guide for New York City in one place on our New York City Financial Help Guides hub.
Related guides
Official sources
Programs and amounts can change. Confirm with DEP at 718-595-7000 before you act.
October 2026 (NYC DEP program pages)
Comments