Tucson Water CARES

Community Assistance Resources for Economic Stability

The Low-Income Assistance Program (LIAP) has been renamed the Utility Bill Assistance Program.

Tucson Water prides itself in providing affordable water for all customers. Through Tucson Water CARES, customers can apply for the Utility Bill Assistance Program to meet their needs. Below, customers can view their eligibility, begin the application process, and browse other financial assistance programs from Tucson Water and its partners.

Utility Bill Assistance Program

At the center of Tucson Water CARES is the Utility Bill Assistance Program which offers monthly discounts on water, garbage, and sewer bills for qualified customers. Applicants must be Tucson Water customers and have an official form of identification. Financial eligibility is based on a Federal Poverty Level set by the US Department of Health and Human Services. Download these Income Guidelines to see if you are eligible.

A bar chart outlines qualifications for monthly utility bill discounts. Download pdf below.

Income Guidelines(PDF, 364KB)

Other assistance programs are available below, regardless of income.

To apply for monthly discounts through the Utility Bill Assistance Program, schedule an appointment by filling out the intake form below. Applicants can also schedule over the phone, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Applicants will need the following documentation ready for their appointment:

Utility Bill

Applicants must have their current utility bill showing the account in their name and the qualifying service address.

Valid Photo ID

One of the following can be used: State ID card, Driver's License, Military ID, Native American Tribal ID card, consular report, or a passport.

Household Income

This is the combined income of all people living in the household. These include salary, child support, alimony, interest earnings, rental income; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income, State Supplemental Payment; Social Security, Veterans, Disability, Unemployment, Retirement Benefits, and any cash public assistance. When a customer provides proof of participation in public assistance programs, the customer automatically qualifies for a 25% discount. Eligible programs are DES programs- Section 8 Housing, SNAP, and/or TANF. Please inquire at (520) 791-5443 to check your eligibility.

We will need proof of your most recent 30 days of payment. Examples of this include paycheck stubs/employer letter with pay rate/hours, social security award letter, SSI/disability letter, pension verification, unemployment check stubs, DES award letter (food stamps/cash assistance), or any other type of income for the past 30 days prior to applying.

Approved customers will be eligible for monthly discounts for up to three years. Tucson Water sends renewal notifications at least 30 days before each enrollment expires.

Emergency Hardship Relief Assistance

This assistance is offered in the event of an emergency hardship in the household such as job loss, serious illness or injury, or the loss of an income-earner in the household. Tucson Water provides up to a $150 bill credit based on documentation provided by the household. This is available for residential single-family and duplex-triplex customer classes. Applicants will need acceptable documentation such as a termination letter, proof of hospital admission, death certificate, etc.

Bill Adjustments

Adjustments are available to customers in cases of emergency hardship or unexpected high water use and vary based on customer class. Applicable water charges and taxes are applied after the adjustment.

Courtesy Adjustment

In situations where leaks and accidents lead to high water bills, customers can apply for a Courtesy Adjustment to reduce their water bill.

A courtesy adjustment is calculated by taking the difference of water use between the high water use month and the same month in the previous year and allowing half of that amount to be dismissed.

The courtesy adjustment is for multifamily, mobile home parks w/sub-meters, commercial, and industrial customer classes.

Customer Relief Adjustment

The customer relief adjustment is available to residential single-family and duplex-triplex rate class customers in cases where leaks and accidents lead to high water bills.

The adjustment is calculated by distributing high bill consumption to match the Tier 2 – Tier 4 usage of the bill from the same month of the prior year. Remaining consumption from the recent high bill is then charged at the lower, current Tier I adopted rate.

Adjustments are granted when all of the following conditions are met:

Water use by the customer has returned to normal levels.
The use in question was more than 20 CCFs.
An adjustment has not been given on the account within the past 3 years.
The water use in question must have occurred within the past 7 months.
No adjustments are made available for reclaimed water or construction water accounts.

Apply Now

You can apply for the Utility Bill Assistance Program, Emergency Hardship Relief Assistance, or Bill Adjustments using our intake form. For any questions about financial assistance, you can reach us by phone or email.

Intake Form

520-791-5443
TW_CustomerService@tucsonaz.gov

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