California plans water bill support programme

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California has begun creating a programme to provide state help for individuals and families who are struggling to pay their water bills.

The legislation is due to go before the state legislature by the beginning of February 2018. The US EPA is also studying affordability more widely and is preparing a new national drinking water strategy, which is due out in December.

California’s work on affordability is said to be in its very early stages, with a further four forums due this month to get public input on the programme – the first, in Fresno, has already been held.

The four main questions that have been identified by the State Water Resources Control Board are who is eligible, how much aid will be offered and the form it will take, how the state will pay for it and how it will be administered.

Eligibility may be judged by membership in other services such as Medicaid.

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  • USA, utility management, water bills and tariffs