Resources for Homeowners

Water Debt Assistance Program

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Water Debt Assistance Program for Single and Multi-Family Homeowners

Homeowners who received a pre-lien warning notice, are on the 90-day lien sale list, or in the service termination process and are currently under threat of foreclosure or mortgage delinquency may apply for the Water Debt Assistance Program (WDAP). If qualified, DEP will remove the property from the upcoming lien sale and defer the debt until the property is sold, refinanced, or the owner has the ability to pay the debt. However, it is important to note that the debt that is deferred and held in abeyance continues to accrue interest. If accepted into the program, the owner must enter into a binding agreement with DEP stating that the debt is valid and will be paid on or before the sale, transfer or refinancing of the property. In addition, the owner must agree to pay all current and future charges on time, or the owner may be in default under the agreement, and the property may be included in a subsequent lien sale or be subject to a future service termination.

WDAP Eligibility Criteria

Properties must have received a Pre-Lien Sale Warning Notice, a 90-Day Lien-Sale Notice, a Service Termination Warning Notice, a 15-Day Service Termination Notice, or a 10-Day Service Termination Notice.

Eligibility criteria are as follows:

  • Tax Class One property (including single families)
  • The property is owner-occupied
  • The owner is not already enrolled in the Water Debt Assistance Program
  • The owner has received formal notifications of serious delinquency from their mortgage lender
  • The owner must acknowledge the existing water and sewer debt as valid, and all future bills must be paid in full, or the property will be included in a subsequent lien sale
  • The owner must enter a binding agreement that the water and sewer debt will be paid in full on or before the property is sold, transferred, or refinanced
  • The owner must be deemed as qualified through a means-test, which will evaluate the owner’s full financial picture to determine their ability to pay the debt

WDAP Enrollment

To determine eligibility, property owners must complete a WDAP Customer Participation Application Form. Completed forms should be brought to one of our borough offices or can be sent to WDAP@dep.nyc.gov so that we can evaluate it. In addition to the application, owners must bring the following documents to the borough office:

  • Valid government-issued photo identification
  • Proof of mortgage delinquency
  • Proof of residency (a recent utility bill with name and service address listed)

Once a property owner is accepted into the program, an agreement will be set up between the owner and DEP with the terms and conditions required for continued enrollment in the program. Please note that access to your water meter may be required to ensure accurate billing.