Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) provided funds to assist low income households with water and wastewater bills. LIHWAP grants were available to states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. territories, and federally and state-recognized Indian Tribes and tribal organizations that received fiscal year (FY) 2021 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) grants.
NOTICE: Funding is no longer available for LIHWAP. Households cannot receive LIHWAP benefits at this time.
Please visit Benefits.gov to find out about other government benefit programs for which you may be eligible, and energyhelp.us to see if you are eligible for energy assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
We encourage you to seek assistance using these resources that may have information on water and wastewater assistance and other various essential resources:
- Community Action Agencies (CAA): CAAs are local government and nonprofit organizations that administer social service programs across the country. You can find contact information for your local agency at this link: communityactionpartnership.com/find-a-cap .
- United Way: Additional resource programs that may be available to assist you can be found by dialing the United Way at 2-1-1 or visiting www.unitedway.org . This resource is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Benefits.gov: Visit www.benefits.gov to find out about other government benefit programs for which you might be eligible.
- See this Water Assistance Resources (PDF) guide for information on how you can ask about water bill assistance in your local area.
- See this Water Assistance Resources (PDF) guide for information on where you can find help with your water well or septic system.
- Energy assistance: Energy assistance may be available to you through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). To find out more, visit energyhelp.us .
Please Note:
The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) does not provide direct grants to individuals; LIHWAP does not charge a fee for receiving a benefit.
If you receive a message offering you a LIHWAP grant or requesting a fee, please contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Fraud Hotline at 1-800-447-8477.
For more information, please visit the Grant Fraud and Scams.
LIHWAP Data Dashboard Updates
LIHWAP serves over ONE MILLION households. See this milestone, and other important data, in the updated LIHWAP Data Dashboard . OCS has added FY23 Quarter 3 reports from grant recipients, which cover the reporting period from April 1, 2023 through June 30, 2023.
Water Utility Affordability Survey Report (PDF)
Conducted in the spring and summer of 2023, the survey collected information from water and wastewater utilities across the United States about arrears, disconnections, fees, rates, and other utility information. The survey was intended to fill a gap in current knowledge related to these indicators on a national scale and to help LIHWAP grant recipients learn more about how they can best assist households in their service areas. 1,822 responses were included in analyses, coming from 49 states, the District of Columbia, 12 tribally-owned utilities, and one territory.
View the Report (PDF)
LIHWAP Implementation and Impact Report
OCS would like to share the final the LIHWAP Implementation and Impact Final Report (Interactive/Not 508 Compliant) and the LIHWAP Final Impact and Implementation Report (PDF). OCS would like to thank all grant recipients, local entities, water utilities, stakeholders, and staff whose work impacted over 1.5 million households and provided access to affordable water and wastewater services.
Contact Information
Contact:
HHS, Administration for Children and Families
Office of Community Services, Division of Energy Assistance
Mary E. Switzer Building, 5th Floor West
330 C Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20201