By Katie Brader and Kobe Highter
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writers
Mayor Brandon Scott announced earlier this month the official launch of a new program to help city residents get discounts on their water bills.
The Water4All program was created to replace two other discount programs, the original BH2O Assists and BH2O Plus. The new program aims to provide Baltimore City residents with more equitable access to financial assistance to pay their water and sewer bills, the mayor’s office said.
Water4All provides a monthly discount for water and sewer bills based on a resident’s income percentage. This includes tenants who do not directly pay their water bills. The program was created under the Water Accountability and Equity Act to ensure assistance, rights, and protection for water customers.
The program calculates the maximum amount residents should pay for water services based on a percentage of their annual income.
The maximum rate is between one and three percent, depending on the income and household size. The difference between this percentage and the resident’s water usage bill determines their annual discount.
The program was created for city residents living below 200% of the federal poverty level guidelines, approximately $53,000 a year in income for a four-person household.
“We know that the city’s water billing system has placed an undue burden on our lower-income residents, homeowners, and renters alike, for quite some time,” said Jack French, a city government spokesperson. “We’ve been working with advocates over the past year or so to hammer out the details of this program and get the infrastructure in place to administer the City’s Water4All program. There is no other program like it in Maryland, and only one other in the entire country.”
Some local advocates and residents said they were worried that the program might not help everyone who needs it.
“Many people are living in poverty, but you cannot tell because of people receiving help from relatives and members of the community,” said Caren Cutler, a representative for the Cross-Country Improvement Association.
Jhane Ruiz, who has been a resident of Baltimore City for nearly two years, said the new program will benefit those who qualify but could leave others out.
Ruiz said many people may not qualify for the program due to Maryland’s poverty rates being fairly high. Ruiz said people should investigate the housing crisis in Maryland.
“There is a housing crisis in the low-income areas [of Baltimore City],” Ruiz said. “Homelessness is a major issue … What about the people who are already suffering? Many people won’t qualify for this. This is just putting a band-aid over the problem.”
Baltimore has a poverty rate of 21.2%, according World Population Review.
Clara Harris, who has been a resident of Baltimore her entire life, said that she has no faith in the government leaders to do the work for the people. However, she believes the people have the power to create change.
“If you’re going to help your people, help them,” said Harris, referring to Scott. “If the citizens pull together and stand up, we can get more done. It takes more than one.”
The Water4all program is now active, and applicants can apply through the public works website.
Baltimore City is one of two cities in the nation that has launched a water discount program of this design. Although the program is replacing the BH2O Assists and BH2O Plus assistance programs, members will need to reapply to receive approval for an annual discount.
“The program will be funded entirely with utility enterprise funds that ratepayers support,” French said. “There is no limit on participants to the program, as long as they meet the eligibility requirements.”
For more information, please contact the Water4All information line at (410)-396-3100 or email Water4All@baltimorecity.gov.