The Baltimore H₂O Assists program, a sound and generous way of addressing the genuine concerns over water bill affordability, begins taking applications on Monday, July 1, 2019, at the Abel Wolman Building, located at 200 Holliday St., Room 8, Baltimore MD 21202. Customers enrolled in existing Senior Citizen or Hardship water billing assistance programs on June 1, 2019, are automatically enrolled in the BH₂O Assists program.

Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) designed the program – also known as BH₂O Assists – so that it drives down a “typical” bill for a family of three from about $98 per month to about $61 per month. An additional credit – called BH₂O Plus, for households at or below 50 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines – will cut the bill by another $21 per month.

BH₂O Assists replaces the Senior Discount and Hardship programs, while expanding eligibility to more households. Qualifying customers who need help catching up on their bills may still be able to participate in the Low-Income Grant program. This is a payment-plan program that provides a $250 credit towards your unpaid balance.

Here are a few key facts about Baltimore H₂O Assists:

• Customers will be eligible if their income is at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, the same as household energy and other assistance programs.
• BH₂O Assists is proactive, so customers will be eligible BEFORE they fall behind on their bills, unlike the existing Low-Income Grant program.
• Customers whose household size is just 1 or 2 persons will be eligible if their income is within the 3 person household amount ($37,328). This will ensure a LARGER, more expansive eligibility that helps the smallest households.
• Eligibility for households larger than 3 people will be based on the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Federal Poverty Guidelines for 2019

• Charges for water and sewer usage will get a 43% discount.
• The Bay Restoration and Stormwater Remediation fees will not be applied.
• Under the BH₂O Plus Program, households whose income is at or below 50% of the Federal Poverty Level (currently $10,665 for a household of 3) will receive an annual credit of $257.  The credit will be applied over 12 months, so the impact would be about $21 per month.
• BH₂O Assists enrollment will last for 12 months. A reminder to re-enroll will be sent before the enrollment expires.

For more information, call the Customer Support and Services Division at 410-396-8963, or visit us at 200 Holliday Street, Room 8, where applications will be available. Answers to frequently asked questions are available here.