Toledo Department of Public Utilities Ends Water Shutoff Moratorium and Resumes Regular Operations
On March 10, 2020 Toledo City Council passed ORD 108-20, placing a moratorium on water shut offs and waiving late fees for City of Toledo residents until the threat of COVID-19 is diminished. The moratorium was established well in advance of Governor DeWine and the Ohio EPA’s order on March 31, 2020, making Toledo the first water utility in Ohio to put a shutoff moratorium in place.
Now that the threat of COVID-19 is diminished, City of Toledo Department of Public Utilities (DPU) will be resuming its regular operations beginning on September 1st making Toledo the last water utility in Ohio to end their shutoff moratorium.
Residents with a past due water balance have a number of options when it comes to paying their bill.
The city’s debt forgiveness program, which launched October 1, 2021, already has 2,500 customers enrolled. Enrollment will continue until October 1, 2022, for eligible customers who:
- live inside the City of Toledo
- have an income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level (300 percent for seniors or disabled customers)
- have past due charges of at least $200 (water, sewer, storm water) from prior to October 1, 2021
Pathway’s Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) has an additional $500,000 available in assistance for eligible customers who:
- live inside Lucas County
- have an income at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty level
- have been disconnected or have received a disconnection notice
The LIHWAP program ends September 30, 2022.
Residents who don’t qualify for those assistance programs may enroll in a payment plan to prevent water shutoff.
All of these programs can be enrolled in through the city’s online portal. If you are facing water shutoff, fill out one online application to see which assistance programs are available to you.
For additional help enrolling, you can contact:
City of Toledo Debt Forgiveness Program
419-314-3402
Pathway Low Income Household Water Assistance Program
567-432-0027
City of Toledo Department of Public Utilities customer service representatives are available over the phone Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 419-245-1800 or dpucustomerservice@toledo.oh.gov.
Representatives will be available to assist customers with answering questions about bills, ensuring eligible discounts are applied, and providing flexible payment options.
Although the Customer Service Walk-In Center at 420 Madison Avenue remains closed to the public, there are still a number of ways for customers to pay their bill:
- Make a payment through their bank or credit union
- Drop bill stub and check into the dropbox in front of 420 Madison
- Mail bill stub and check or money order to 420 Madison Ave. Toledo, OH 43604
- Make a credit card payment through Paymentus at 866-417-0726 or online at toledo.oh.gov/pay-water-bill
*Please note, a $2.25 transaction fee for every $400 will be applied
In addition, the City of Toledo will host a series of community meetings beginning September 12th which will take place in all six Toledo City Council Districts. These meetings will be from 5 – 6 p.m. and residents will have the opportunity to have any utility questions answered.
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