Today, November 2nd, 2026, the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management (DWM) relaunched their FLOAT Initiative to help Atlantans in need of water-bill assistance.
Keep scrolling for all the information, to see if you’re eligible, and how to use FLOAT.
What is FLOAT?
FLOAT is a customer assistance program designed to help eligible residents bring past-due water and sewer accounts current while providing financial relief and additional customer support.
This program offers eligible residents flexible payment options & financial assistance while they are experiencing economic hardship.
The program also provides opportunities to:
- address outstanding field service requests
- resolve billing discrepancies
- make necessary account adjustments
Am I eligible for FLOAT?
The FLOAT Initiative aims to help
- single-family residential customers
- customers with an outstanding account balance 61 days overdue
- seniors and customers on fixed incomes (with increased flexibility)
The program implements:
- Interest-free payment plans of up to 36 months
- Affordable down payments ranging from 2.5% of the outstanding balance
- Automatic waiver of late fees and fines
- Account adjustments and eligible one-time grants and credits
The program also offers increased flexibility for seniors and fixed income populations utilizing
Why do we need water bill assistance in Atlanta?
According to a report by WSB-TV Atlanta, city residents owe $236 million in unpaid water bills.
This affects thousands of Atlantans.
The news station reported that an “audit found about 60,000 Atlanta water accounts are considered delinquent.”
When does FLOAT begin again?
The FLOAT Initiative begins November 2nd, 2026 and will be available through January 31st, 2027.
To learn more and schedule a meeting to apply, visit the Atlanta Watershed’s website, here.