The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program offers a one-time payment to help you pay your water or wastewater bill. The amount of help that each resident will receive depends upon the past due balance and current charges of the household’s residential water and wastewater bills. Households whose utility payments are included in their rent may also be eligible for LIHWAP. Program participation is limited to households receiving services from water and wastewater providers enrolled in the LIHWAP partnership to receive the payment of assistance benefits.
Eligibility Requirements Include:
- 18 years or older
- Must live in Santa Barbara County
- Meet Income Eligibility Guidelines
- Local water/wastewater district must be an enrolled partner (see list below)
- Ability to provide all documents requested in the LIHWAP Water Assistance Application
*Households whose utility payments are included in their rent may also be eligible for benefit assistance.
What Can I Qualify For?
LIHWAP provides one-time payments to low-income households that are eligible for assistance. The size of the benefit (up to $15,000.00) can vary depending on the past due balance and current charges of the household’s residential water or wastewater bills.
LIHWAP helps pay overdue bills which accrued during any timeframe and there is no date restriction for when the overdue amount occurred.
How Do I Apply?
Households can request to complete a LIHWAP screening form by dialing 2-1-1 or by applying online.
After the screening form is submitted a CommUnify intake worker will contact you for further information.
If out of the area or unable to connect to 2-1-1, call 800-400-1572 or apply at https://www.communifysb.org/enrollment-application.
Participating water districts:
Carpinteria Water District
City of Buellton
City of Cuyama
City of Guadalupe
City of Lompoc
City of Santa Barbara City of Santa Maria – Past Due Only
Goleta Water District
Golden State Water
Mission Hills
Montecito Water District
Vandenberg Village