Bill to Help Those Facing Water Shut-Offs Heads to Governor Murphy’s Desk
The New Jersey legislature just passed a bill that requires all water and sewer utilities to participate in the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) and promote the program to their customers, or else are prohibited from shutting off water or selling tax liens for unpaid bills.
TRENTON, NJ (March 30, 2023) — Today the New Jersey Assembly voted in favor of S3333/A5020, which previously passed the Senate. The bill now heads to Governor Phil Murphy’s desk for his signature. Under the bill, all water and sewer utilities would be required to participate in the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) and promote the program to their customers, or else be prohibited from shutting off water or selling tax liens for unpaid bills. The legislation also requires the NJ Department of Community Affairs to improve its communications and coordination with utilities to facilitate higher enrollment in the Program. LIHWAP offers up to $8,000 to low- and moderate-income households to pay overdue water and sewer bills.
The following is a reaction from the bill’s primary Senate sponsor, Sen. Nilsa Cruz-Pérez (D-Camden/Gloucester):
“The hard times continue for many low-income families and working people who struggled to make it through the pandemic and continue to struggle to make ends meet. They shouldn’t be forced to choose between food on the table or paying their water bills, especially when there is a program designed to help. This legislation will ensure that utility companies and the Department of Community Affairs work together to increase participation so the available assistance can get into the hands of those who need it.”
The following is a reaction from Larry Levine, Senior Attorney and Director of Urban Water Infrastructure at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):
“The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program has struggled since its launch, in March 2022, to provide help to people at risk of losing water service, or even losing their homes, due to unpaid water and sewer bills. This legislation will help ensure that every water and sewer utility allows, and actually encourages, its eligible customers to seek this assistance to pay off their water and sewer debt.”
“Although the need far exceeds the program’s limited-time funding, millions of dollars are now available. It’s up to the Murphy Administration, together with utilities and municipalities, to get these funds to residents who need the help to avoid water shut-offs or tax lien sales on their homes. And then, moving forward, we all need to come together on long-term solutions that ensure water and sewer systems can provide clean, safe water, without making bills unaffordable for low-income households.”
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.