Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval and Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) are offering some relief to residents impacted by the federal government shutdown.
On Friday, the mayor’s office and GCWW announced a temporary shutoff pause of water bills for both SNAP recipients and furloughed federal workers who accrue account delinquencies while they are not receiving benefits or salary. Starting Nov. 7, there will be a moratorium on utility disconnections for nonpayment for eligible customers that will remain in effect until the shutdown ends.
“The chaos in Washington is causing direct harm to some of our most vulnerable residents. Nobody should have to decide between food for their families or basic utilities,” Pureval said in a press release. “We’re grateful that our Administration and Water Works were ready to act quickly to provide temporary relief for our neighbors facing this difficult moment.”
If you are an affected customer, you can call GCWW at 513-591-7700. You will be asked to provide either a copy of your EBT card or a copy of an official furlough notice for federal workers.
“We want to ensure that residents do not lose access to water as a result of the federal shutdown,” said Andrea E. Yang, GCWW’s interim executive director. “Through no fault of their own, some of our customers are now facing a financial crunch that was unanticipated. Availability of clean water is essential for public health and we are taking this action to provide some temporary relief until the impasse can be resolved.”
