Residents of Pittsburgh with outstanding debt on their water utilities can see it forgiven over a 24-month period.
Instituted by Pittsburgh’s water authority, certain customers have already been enrolled as of September, and need only keep up with monthly payments to see pre-September outstanding debt gradually forgiven.
Called the Arrearage Forgiveness Program, Pittsburgh Water recently updated and improved the program, while some 4,300 city households living below 200% of the Federal Poverty Line were automatically enrolled.
If such a household had, by September 1st, outstanding debt—$1,000, for example—they can see that total entirely erased if they begin meeting payment obligations. For every month the obligation is met, one twenty-fourth ($41.60, using the example) of their outstanding debt will be forgiven.
In two years’ time, the balance in arrears will thus be zeroed out.
Pittsburgh Water director of customer service Julie Mechling told the CBS News affiliate in the city that over the 24-month period, customers can miss up to 2 monthly payments and still stay on track for debt forgiveness. More than 2, however, and they are removed from the program.
“There’s help out there for people who are struggling. There are multiple opportunities for you to come to us and see what protections are available to you,” Mechling said.
Pittsburgh Water said the program is possible because a reasonably low number of total customers have outstanding debt or miss payments. Greater than 95% in fact have neither, and Pittsburgh Water sees it as a kind of mutual aid opportunity for the fewer than 5% who are struggling.
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