Have you paid your water bill?
In March 2020, Governor Gavin Newsroom declared a State of Emergency in California in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in April issued an Executive Order imposing a state-wide moratorium on water service terminations. In response to the Governor’s directives, East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), the City of Alameda’s water and sewage treatment services provider, stopped terminating water service for non-payment of bills.
In December 2020, EBMUD’s Board of Directors approved an updated Residential Non-Payment Policy to take effect after the State of Emergency declaration was lifted, ending water service shutoffs for long-delinquent accounts. On February 28, 2023, the Governor lifted the State of Emergency and this week, on October 1, EBMUD began enforcing its updated Residential Non-Payment Policy.
The updated policy recognizes the importance of maintaining access to water for public health, but also that EBMUD cannot continue providing high-quality drinking water for its 1.4 million customers in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties if customers do not pay their water bills. Now, rather than terminating water service for non-payment of bills, EBMUD will employ property tax liens or water flow restrictors.
The new policy applies to single-family residential customers whose water bills are more than 93 days past due and who have not responded to multiple collection attempts by EBMUD. The policy distinguishes between owner-occupied single-family residences and renters of single-family homes, as follows:
If you are the homeowner and the EBMUD bill is in your name, a lien in the amount of your unpaid water bill will be placed on your next property tax bill.
If you rent a single-family home and are named on the EBMUD bill, EBMUD will install a flow restrictor on your water meter. This will reduce the amount of water coming into your home from 15 gallons per minute to ½ gallon per minute, which EBMUD considers the minimum amount essential for basic life necessities, including drinking, cooking, and sanitation. According to EBMUD, the installation of flow restrictors allows customers sufficient water to meet basic needs while enforcing the need to pay their water bill.
This policy does not apply to renters in multi-family buildings because individual apartments are not individually metered. If the landlord of a multi-family building is delinquent on their water bill a lien in the amount of the unpaid bill will be added to the building owner’s next property tax bill.
Importantly, EBMUD will not interrupt water service to customers who are financially unable to pay their water bill by the due date and who submit medical certification from a licensed primary care provider that interrupting water service would be life threatening to, or pose a serious threat to the health and safety of the customer or a resident of the premises. If you fall within this category, please contact EBMUD Customer Service immediately. (See contact information below.)
EBMUD offers several options for those facing financial difficulties, including customer assistance programs, flexible payment plans and extensions, and water conservation resources to manage water use.
To avoid disruption to your water service, call EBMUD Customer Service, 1-866-403-2683 Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm or visit ebmud.com/customers/account/pay-your-bill to pay your bill or set up a payment plan.
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“Time and science are on our side.” I said this often during the frightening early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, as scientists around the world raced to develop treatments and vaccines, working collaboratively to combat this new deadly virus. And they succeeded. So let’s not take these impressive scientific achievements for granted. Updated fall vaccines are available and expected to protect against currently circulating COVID variants. Now, as winter approaches when COVID is expected to surge, is a perfect time to schedule vaccines for you and your family. To find a vaccination site near you visit myturn.ca.gov.
While you’re online you can order free COVID-19 test kits. Every home in the U.S. is again eligible to order four at-home test kits. Visit COVIDTests.gov or call 1-800-232-0233 to request yours.
Keep the water flowing! Protect yourself from COVID! Stay Alameda Strong!
Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft is the Mayor of the City of Alameda. Reach her at [email protected].
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