AWWA Policy Statement on Discontinuance of Water Service for Nonpayment

October 23, 2025

The following AWWA Policy Statement on Discontinuance of Water Service for Nonpayment has been approved by the Technical and Educational Council for council/ member comment and to be reaffirmed.

Comments on the policy statement will be reviewed by AWWA staff and forwarded to the Executive Committee if the comments are minor, or referred back to the originating body if the comments are substantive. Policies forwarded to the Executive Committee will be reviewed for approval and final action.

Discontinuance of Water Service for Nonpayment

AWWA believes in nondiscriminatory billing and collection procedures to ensure each customer pays for the services rendered by a utility under its rates and tariffs. Failure on the part of the customer to pay a water bill for services rendered necessitates others bear the costs.

AWWA recognizes certain circumstances may require flexibility because water service plays an essential role in protecting public health, may be required for life-sustaining equipment and may be required for other critical purposes. Water service also may be a vital part of industrial and commercial operations. Discontinuance of water service for nonpayment should be instituted with sufficient customer notification, and only after other reasonable alternatives have been exhausted.

Practices specified in this policy statement are consistent with all other pertinent AWWA policy statements.

Adopted by the Board of Directors Jan. 28, 1978, revised Jan. 31, 1982, reaffirmed on Jan. 27, 1991, and revised June 17, 2001, revised Jan. 16, 2005, reaffirmed by the Board of Directors Jan. 20, 2013. Revised by the Board of Directors June 11, 2017. Revised Jan. 10, 2022.

Submit comments by November 23, 2025.