The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) was an emergency water assistance program created by Congress to alleviate the water affordability challenges experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. LIHWAP is the first-ever Federal water and wastewater assistance program and committed $1.138 billion to utilities and households to address water and wastewater bill arrearages and bills that had led to or would lead to water shutoffs.

The purpose of this report, entitled The Case for a Permanent LIHWAP Program, is to explore what was learned from states’ experiences implementing the LIHWAP program in order to make a permanent program even more impactful.

Ultimately, there are three key messages from our discussions with LIHWAP implementers:

1. LIHWAP filled a significant public health gap. Underinvestment in water before LIHWAP left many households experiencing water shutoffs or in danger of facing water shutoffs. LIHWAP prevented this.
2. States delivered. Despite challenges, states delivered funding to utilities when they needed it the most.
3. A permanent program would continue to deliver successes. The need for water assistance has not disappeared. A permanent program would pay immediate dividends, especially with certain changes.

LIHWAP was a successful program for utilities and households by improving utility financial security and protecting access to water, and should be established as a permanent program.

The Report can be accessed here.