Atlanta restarts water bill relief program with expanded locations

The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management is relaunching a support program to help customers pay overdue water bills. The initiative, known as FLOAT, offers long-term payment plans, reduced down payments, and one-time grants. Residents can apply for assistance at five city locations starting Monday, Nov. 2.

An audit conducted by officials revealed more than $230 million in unpaid balances across the city. This debt spans more than 60,000 single-family residential accounts. The program specifically targets customers who are at least 61 days behind on their payments. Assistance is not automatic, requiring the department to work directly with applicants to determine suitable solutions.

Commissioner Greg Eyerly stated that the program aims to stabilize the utility while the city recoups unpaid balances. He noted that delinquent bills create financial risk for the city's future infrastructure. Eyerly emphasized that failing to pay water bills affects neighbors and places the city's stability at risk.

Rita Bennett-Green, a lifelong Atlanta resident, applied for the program on its first day. She cited rising utility costs and the need to manage basic expenses. Bennett-Green said the relief helps avoid difficult monthly trade-offs between water, gas, and electric bills. She noted that the program allows residents to avoid marking specific bills as unpaid during months when income is delayed.

The FLOAT program will run through Jan. 31, 2027. Once that deadline passes, the department plans to increase residential shutoffs for delinquent accounts. Application hours vary by location to accommodate different schedules.

Two sites opened with extended hours from 8:15 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Nov. 6. These locations are Atlanta City Hall at 55 Trinity Ave. SW and DWM Headquarters at 72 Marietta St. NW. Their regular hours are Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last appointment accepted at 4:30 p.m.

Three additional sites began operating on Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. These include the Rosel Fann Recreation Center at 365 Cleveland Ave. SE, the William Walker Recreation Center at 2405 Fairburn Road SW, and the C.T. Martin Natatorium and Recreation Center at 3201 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW. The C.T. Martin site will also open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 21, Dec. 19, Jan. 9, and Jan. 30.