Atlanta relaunches water bill assistance program, ‘FLOAT’

As the city grapples with more than $230 million in unpaid water bills, Atlanta officials relaunched the FLOAT assistance program.

Channel 2 Action News reported when the city said thousands of accounts were past due.

The announcement came Monday morning, with the City of Atlanta saying the Department of Watershed Management was relaunching the assistance program to help residents address past-due accounts.

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“The initiative offers flexible payment options and financial assistance to customers experiencing economic hardship,” Atlanta officials said in a statement. “The program also provides opportunities to address outstanding field service requests, resolve billing discrepancies, and make necessary account adjustments.”

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The FLOAT Initiative is aimed at helping:

• Single-family residential customers
• Customers with account balances 61 days overdue
• Provide flexibility for seniors and other customers on fixed incomes
• Provides payment plans up to 36 months
• Allowing affordable down payments starting at 2.5% of outstanding balance
• Giving customers automatic waivers of late fees or fines
• Giving account adjustments and eligible one-time grants and credits

With the relaunch of FLOAT, Atlanta will have staff rom the water department available at two locations starting Monday to provide in-person assistance from 8:15 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Starting Tuesday, five locations will be available to assist eligible water customers from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m., with final appointment scheduling accepted at 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For Monday’s availability, customers can go to DWM Headquarters at 72 Marietta Street or Atlanta City Hall at 55 Trinity Avenue.

Starting Tuesday, City Hall and DWM Headquarters will still take appointments, as well as the following locations and at these times:

• Rosel Fann Recreation Center
• • 365 Cleveland Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30354
  • Monday – Friday
  • 10 a.m.– 6 p.m.
• William Walker Recreation Center
• • 2405 Fairburn Road SW, Atlanta, GA 30331
  • Monday – Friday
  • 10 a.m.– 6 p.m.
• C.T. Martin Natatorium and Recreation Center
• • 3201 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW, Atlanta, GA 30311
  • Monday – Friday
  • 10 a.m.– 6 p.m.
• Additional Saturday Dates – C.T. Martin Recreation Center
• • November 21, December 19, January 9, and January 30
  • 10 a.m.– 2 p.m.

DWM said other assistance options for customers in need are available, including Promise Pay, the Care and Conserve Program and the Senior Citizen Discount Program.

Those interested in booking appointments to apply for FLOAT assistance can go online here or call 404-546-0311.

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