Financial help is available for some low-income Baltimore City residents to help manage water and sewage rates that are set to increase July 1.
Water bills will increase by 9.4 percent in accordance with a three-year rate structure approved by the Board of Estimates in 2016.
For residents with a 5/8 inch meter and seven units of water consumed each month, bills would rise from $76.88 to $84.03.
In order to cushion the impact of the rate increase, annual assistance grants for qualifying low-income customers will also increase by 9.4 percent.
Also, the qualifying income threshold for the senior discount program will increase by 2 percent to $30,600 from the current $30,000.
Both programs are limited to Baltimore City residents who get a water bill directly from DPW and who meet income requirements.
"DPW is committed to making sure that our low-income customers receive the help they need to pay their water bills," said DPW Director Rudolph S. Chow, P.E.
