PHOENIX — The City of Phoenix will begin shutting off water service on Nov. 16 for customers who are more than four months behind on their bills, ending a pause on disconnections that started in March 2020.
The city first announced the change on Oct. 1. According to the city, more than 9,000 accounts are seriously delinquent and together owe nearly $24 million. That figure includes water, wastewater and solid waste charges, along with taxes and fees.
The city says its own review found Phoenix is the only water utility in Arizona that does not disconnect residential service for significantly delinquent accounts.
Brandy Kelso, director of the Phoenix Water Services Department, told ABC15 the city stopped shutoffs during COVID-19 so people would have water, and later had federal money to help customers with payments. She said a customer who misses one payment and catches up on the next bill will not be shut off.
“For (the delinquent) customers, they’re more than 120 days delinquent, so it’s time to start getting them either on a payment plan or getting them other resources through Project Assist, if they qualify,” Kelso said.
Project Assist is run by the city’s Human Services Department for income-qualified households. Eligibility rules apply, and help depends on available funding. Kelso said customer service staff have already started sending letters and calling customers ahead of the shutoffs.
The city also pointed to the drought on the Colorado River, noting Lake Mead is in a Level 1 shortage condition, as part of the reason for bringing the policy back.
Jessica Berg of St. Vincent de Paul in Phoenix told ABC15 she expects more people to ask the group for help once shutoffs begin, and that it plans to work with partners and the city so people don’t fall through the cracks.
Customers who are behind can call Phoenix Customer Services at 602-262-6251, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or manage their accounts online through the city’s water website.
Sources: ABC15. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: Scott Umstattd scott_umstattd / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.
