Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)
Keep your water turned on with the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)
The Water Assistance program assists eligible households pay their water bills by restoring service, paying arrearages, and reducing rates for water and wastewater services. If you are eligible for our Fuel Assistance (LIHEAP) program you may also be eligible for the water assistance program.
Funding priority is currently given to those with terminated water service, impending termination, and/or those in arrears. If this does not apply to your current situation, we still encourage those who are income eligible and have not applied for Fuel Assistance to apply for the program. When you’re eligible for Fuel Assistance you also receive various discounts such as telephone discounts, electric discounts, and gas and oil discounts. Clients will also be provided help with past due arrearage management. Eligibility also gives access to our other energy related services including Weatherization, Heating Repairs, and Appliance Management to enhance the energy efficiency of your home, saving you even more money.
Program Details:
Eligibility: Funding priority is currently given to those with terminated water service, impending termination, and/or those in arrears. Eligibility is based on the annual gross household income and family size factors as our Fuel Assistance program. Income guidelines used are established by the federal government.
Benefits: Program benefit levels can be found at this link: LIHWAP Benefit Levels
Service Area: Fall River, Assonet, Freetown, Rehoboth, Swansea, Somerset, Seekonk, Westport, Taunton, Berkley, Dighton, and Lakeville.
Documentation Needed: Clients must document a minimum of “4” consecutive weeks of income or any number not to exceed the prior “52” weeks. Proof of residence is required for all applicants by submitting a copy of a current heating or electric bill. Social security numbers are requested of all household members over 18 yrs of age. Proof of housing costs is also required. For renters, please submit a copy of the current lease or rent receipt and for homeowners, please submit a current mortgage statement, real estate tax bill and homeowners insurance policy with an annual premium.
Households must document US Citizenship or “Qualified Alien Status” for all members. Some examples of documentation are: social security card, birth certificate and/or green card. Please contact our office for a complete list of acceptable documents.
All necessary forms can be viewed and downloaded here.
Please note: Households that include non-citizens may be eligible for fuel assistance benefits if the non-citizens are “Qualified Aliens” or if at least one member of the household is a United States citizen (which may include a child born in the US). Green cards (INS Form I-551) are one of the documents that establish “Qualified Alien” status for a member of the household. Again, please contact our office for a more complete list of acceptable documents.
Application Process: To be eligible for the water assistance program, the same application process for Fuel Assistance applies. We are now offering an online portal for new and returning applicants to complete Fuel Assistance applications. Please do not use the portal if you have already sent in your purple application for the current fuel season.
You can still apply in-person by calling us at 508 – 679 – 0041 (Greater Fall River) or 508 – 823 – 6346 (Greater Taunton) or by emailing fuelmail@cfcinc.org to setup an appointment with an intake worker.
Click the button below to start an online application:
Fall River Office
Director: Dennis Medeiros
Program E-mail: fuelmail@cfcinc.org
Address: 250 Griffin St., Fall River, MA 02724
Telephone: (508) 679-0041
Automated Telephone Line: (508) 676-7398
(Four languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Khmer)
FAX: (508) 675-0245
Office Hours:
Normal Business Hours
Mon. – Fri. 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. & 1:15 p.m. – 4 p.m.
2nd Saturday of Each Month
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Taunton Office
Director: Dennis Medeiros
Program E-mail: fuelmail@cfcinc.org
Address: 1 Taunton Green, Taunton MA 02780
Telephone: (508) 823-6346
Automated Telephone Line: (508) 676-7398
(Four Languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish, Khmer)
FAX: (508) 823-6348
Office Hours:
November 1st thru April 30th
Mon – Fri 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Off-Season Office Hours:
Mon. – Fri. 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.