Pittsburgh Water Bill Help 2026–27: Discounts, Arrears Forgiveness, Hardship Grants and the Winter Moratorium
If you get water from Pittsburgh Water (still called PWSA by most people in the city), you have more help available than most customers realize. One application covers the Bill Discount Program and the Winter Shut Off Moratorium. A September 2026 change also makes it much easier to clear an old balance.
This guide is for households that are behind, close to falling behind, or just want a smaller bill. It covers each program, the 2026 income limits, and the order I'd apply in.
Last checked October 2026. Program rules and income figures come from Pittsburgh Water's Customer Assistance Programs, Arrearage Forgiveness, Hardship Grant and PGH2O Cares pages.
Start Here: Which Situation Are You In?
You have a shutoff notice right now. Call PGH2O Cares at 412-255-2457 today. Don't wait for the paperwork to sort itself out. Ask which programs you qualify for and whether applying changes your shutoff date. The main customer service line is 412-255-2423 (press 5).
You're behind but service is on. Apply for the Bill Discount Program first. Most people who are under the income limit and carrying a past-due balance are then placed in the Arrearage Forgiveness Program automatically.
You're current but money is tight. Apply for the Bill Discount Program anyway. It lowers every bill going forward.
It's fall and you're worried about winter. Apply for the Winter Shut Off Moratorium before December. The income limit is higher than for the other programs.
The 2026 Income Limits
Pittsburgh Water measures eligibility against the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). This is Pittsburgh Water's 2026 chart for annual gross household income:
| Household size | 150% FPL | 200% FPL | 300% FPL | |---|---|---|---| | 1 | $23,940 | $31,920 | $47,880 | | 2 | $32,460 | $43,280 | $64,920 | | 3 | $40,980 | $54,640 | $81,960 | | 4 | $49,500 | $66,000 | $99,000 | | 5 | $58,020 | $77,360 | $116,040 | | 6 | $66,540 | $88,720 | $133,080 | | 7 | $75,060 | $100,080 | $150,120 | | 8 | $83,580 | $111,440 | $167,160 | | Each extra person | +$8,520 | +$11,360 | +$17,040 |
Here's what each column covers:
150% FPL: ALCOSAN Clean Water Assistance Fund
200% FPL: Bill Discount, Arrearage Forgiveness, Hardship Grants, Line Repair and Water Conservation
300% FPL: Winter Moratorium, Lead Service Line Replacement Reimbursement
If you're unsure where you fall, Pittsburgh Water points customers to Dollar Energy Fund's income calculator at hardshiptools.org.
Bill Discount Program
This program cuts the monthly bill itself, so it's the one I'd file first. Pittsburgh Water lists three parts:
The first 1,000 gallons of water and wastewater conveyance are free.
The stormwater fee is cut by 85%.
PENNVEST charges are cut by 50%.
Limit: 200% FPL. Apply with the online application on the Customer Assistance Programs page, or by phone through PGH2O Cares.
One practical note: a small household's usage can come close to that free 1,000 gallons. That makes it worth asking PGH2O Cares to go over your usage with you. That's part of their job, and it's covered below.
Arrearage Forgiveness Program (Updated September 1, 2026)
If you owe an old balance, this is the most important change this year.
Before September 1, 2026, you had to be on an active payment plan. You got a $40 credit for each on-time payment of your installment plus your current charges.
Since September 1, 2026, there is no payment plan and no requirement to pay down the old balance. Your past-due balance is frozen. Each time you pay your current monthly charges on time, 1/24th of the old balance is forgiven. After 24 on-time months, the whole arrearage can be gone.
Who gets in: Residential customers at or below 200% FPL who have a past-due balance and stay current on new charges.
Automatic enrollment: Customers who were in the old program are moved into the new one automatically. So are Bill Discount participants with arrears who weren't enrolled yet. You can opt out, but most people shouldn't.
How to tell you're in: Enrolled bills show an Arrearage Forgiveness Program message on the front right. If you're on Bill Discount, have a balance, and don't see that message, call PGH2O Cares.
The catch: Pittsburgh Water says participants who miss on-time payments of current charges may be removed. If a month is going to be short, call before the due date, not after. Full rules are in the Pittsburgh Water tariff.
Tip from casework: set up the payment for the day your income lands, not the due date. Forgiveness depends on on-time payments, and a payment that's two days late can cost you more than the bill itself.
Hardship Grants
What it pays: Up to $450 a year for water and a separate grant of up to $450 a year for wastewater conveyance. That's up to $900 a year if you need both.
Limit: 200% FPL. Grants are first-come, first-served, so apply early in the season rather than waiting until the notice is final.
How to apply: You don't apply to Pittsburgh Water directly. Hardship grants go through community organizations that partner with Dollar Energy Fund. Find one with the Agency Finder at hardshiptools.org/AgencyFinder.aspx, then call and ask what they need from you.
The hardship grant page still uses an older dollar example for a family of four. Go by the 2026 chart above, which is on the main assistance page.
ALCOSAN Clean Water Assistance Fund
What it pays: $57 quarterly grants.
Limit: 150% FPL, which is lower than the other programs.
Ask PGH2O Cares how to get this one. The assistance page lists the amount and the income limit but not the application steps.
Winter Shut Off Moratorium
What it does: Protects you from shutoff for nonpayment from December 1 through March 31.
Limit: 300% FPL. A family of four can earn up to $99,000 and still qualify, so many working households that don't qualify for the discount are covered here.
How to apply: Use the same online application as the Bill Discount Program, or apply through PGH2O Cares.
What it doesn't do: It doesn't erase the bill. Charges still build up over the winter. If you're also under 200% FPL, pair the moratorium with Bill Discount and Arrearage Forgiveness, so you don't face a large balance on April 1.
Line Repair and Water Conservation
A leaking toilet or dripping faucet can quietly double a bill. For households at or below 200% FPL, Pittsburgh Water offers free leak repairs on exposed plumbing and installation of water-saving devices.
If your bill jumped and nothing changed in your household, ask PGH2O Cares about this program before you assume the meter is wrong.
Lead Service Line Replacement Reimbursement
Homeowners at or below 300% FPL can get up to 100% reimbursement of the cost of proactively replacing a lead service line. It uses the same application as the Bill Discount Program and the moratorium. Check eligibility with Pittsburgh Water before you hire a contractor, so you know which costs count.
What PGH2O Cares Actually Does
PGH2O Cares is Pittsburgh Water's outreach team. According to the utility, they will:
explain each assistance program and its benefits
make sure eligible customers actually get enrolled
review your water usage to find ways to lower the bill
show you how to register for and use the online usage portal
Phone: 412-255-2457. Email: cares@pgh2o.com.
If you have trouble with online forms, ask them to take your application over the phone. The utility offers that option.
Domestic Violence Protections
If you give Pittsburgh Water a copy of a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order or another court order with clear evidence of domestic violence, special protections apply. Pittsburgh Water's Domestic Violence Victims' Rights flyer lists them.
For confidential help, the utility refers people to the Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh.
An Order That Works for Most Households
Check your income against the chart above.
Under 200% FPL? Apply online or by phone for Bill Discount + Winter Moratorium together.
Have a balance? Confirm you're in Arrearage Forgiveness (check for the bill message).
Call a Dollar Energy Fund partner agency for Hardship Grants for both water and sewer.
Under 150% FPL? Ask PGH2O Cares about the ALCOSAN grant.
High bills with no explanation? Request a Line Repair and Water Conservation visit.
Pay every new bill on time to keep forgiveness going.
Between 200% and 300% FPL? Step 2 still applies, but only for the Winter Moratorium.
What to Have Ready
Pittsburgh Water's pages don't publish a document checklist. Before you call, have your account number (on your bill), the people in your household, and your gross household income. The program will tell you if it needs proof of income.
FAQ
Is Pittsburgh Water the same as PWSA? Yes. The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority now goes by Pittsburgh Water.
Do I need a payment plan to get my old balance forgiven? Not since September 1, 2026. The new program freezes the balance. It forgives 1/24th each month you pay current charges on time.
I was on the old $40-credit plan. Do I need to reapply? No. Pittsburgh Water says existing enrollees were moved into the new program automatically, with an option to opt out.
What happens if I miss a month? Pittsburgh Water says you may be removed from the program. Call PGH2O Cares before the due date if you can't pay.
Can the Winter Moratorium stop a shutoff in November? No. The moratorium covers December 1 through March 31. For a notice before December, call 412-255-2457 right away and ask about Bill Discount and hardship grants.
How much can a hardship grant pay? Up to $450 a year for water and up to $450 a year for wastewater conveyance, through Dollar Energy Fund partner agencies.
Do renters qualify? The programs are for residential customers. If the water account is in your name, ask PGH2O Cares. If your landlord pays the water bill, these programs generally run through the account holder, so talk to your landlord.
Is help available in other languages? Pittsburgh Water posts assistance flyers in Spanish, Ukrainian, Russian, Kiswahili, Arabic, Pashto and Dari as well as English.
Related Guides
Sources
Pittsburgh Water, Customer Assistance Programs: https://www.pgh2o.com/cap
Pittsburgh Water, Arrearage Forgiveness Program: https://www.pgh2o.com/residential-commercial-customers/customer-assistance-programs/arrearage-forgiveness-program
Pittsburgh Water, Hardship Grant Program: https://www.pgh2o.com/residential-commercial-customers/customer-assistance-programs/hardship-grant-program
Pittsburgh Water, PGH2O Cares: https://www.pgh2o.com/residential-commercial-customers/customer-assistance-programs/pgh2o-cares
Dollar Energy Fund, Agency Finder: https://www.hardshiptools.org/AgencyFinder.aspx
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