Help on Tap Program

Help on Tap - Customer Assistance Program

ACWD recognizes some customers may experience difficulty paying their water bills. Our customer assistance program, Help on Tap, will provide income-qualified residential customers a credit equal to 100% of the bimonthly water service charge, currently $61.30.

Your household may qualify if the total income does not exceed the income guidelines according to the chart below. If you feel you qualify, complete and return the downloadable application, or to request an application be mailed to you, please call 510.668.4200. Proof of income is required for approval. Typical ways to verify household income include providing your most recent tax return, Social Security statements, consecutive payments, proof of unemployment, or similar documents. Proof of enrollment by the applicant in Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKs, or SSI/SSP will be considered as qualifying for the Help on Tap program. For more information income eligibility, please refer to the program application.

If you are eligible for the program, you will be approved for a three year period, after which you will need to re-apply. 

Income Guidelines

*Income guidelines are based on the greater of 50% Area Median income or 250% the Federal Poverty Level. Income before taxes based on all current income sources. Total household income must not exceed the income guidelines outlined above to qualify. Income guidelines subject to change.

Download Application

Help on Tap Program Application - English (PDF)

Help on Tap Program Application -  Español (Spanish) (PDF)

Help on Tap Program Application - 中文 (Chinese) (PDF)

Help on Tap Program Application - Tagalog (Tagalog) (PDF)

Help on Tap Program Application -한국어 (Korean) (PDF)

Help on Tap Program Application -Việt (Vietnamese) (PDF)

Help on Tap Program Application - فارسی (Farsi)(PDF)

Help on Tap Program Application - हिंदी (Hindi) (PDF)

Low Income Household Water Assistance Program

The California Department of Community Services offers a program to assist certain qualified customers with past due water bills through a one-time payment of up to $2,000. For more information on this program, please see the attached flyer. You may also contact the program’s local service provider, Spectrum Community Services, at 510-881-0300, or visit https://www.csd.ca.gov/waterbill. 

Only qualifying low-income customers will be eligible for LIHWAP, and ACWD staff are not involved in determining eligibility or administering the program.  You must work with Spectrum to apply for the program.