Overdue Water & Sewer Charges - DEP

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Overdue Water & Sewer Charges

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Overdue Water & Sewer Charges


Overdue Water & Sewer Charges

The 2025 lien sale will be held on May 20, 2025. The last day to pay to get out of the 2025 lien sale is May 19, 2025. Learn more.

If your water and sewer account is seriously delinquent, DEP has enforcement collection actions that can affect you and your property. These collection actions can include service termination/water shut off, legal referral to attorneys for possible court judgments against you, and your property being included in a Tax Lien Sale.

You may receive notices to give you an opportunity to take action to resolve your outstanding account balance before collection enforcement begins. DEP may issue you a Water Shut Off Notice, a Legal Referral Warning Notice, or a Pre-Lien Notice. You may also receive a 90 Day Lien Sale Notice from the NYC Department of Finance. These notices may indicate a specific timeframe to resolve your balance due before service termination, legal referral to attorneys to commence court actions, or that your overdue water and sewer charges are being sold in a New York City tax lien sale. To avoid these serious collection enforcements, delinquent customers should contact Customer Service.

Learn more about the NYC Water Board’s regulations on The Discontinuance of Water Supply and/or Sewer Service Because of Nonpayment.

Service Termination FAQs

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How do I avoid service termination?

To avoid water and/or sewer service termination, you must either pay your outstanding account balance in full or enter into a payment agreement with a 25% down payment. If a payment is not received and posted before the termination date, your service will be terminated.

What should I do if I can’t afford to pay off the entire balance before the service termination date?

If you are not already in a payment agreement, you can enter into an agreement with DEP which requires at least a 25% down payment. If you default on the agreement, your service may be terminated. Only the owner of the property or a representative who has the power of attorney or a notarized letter of authorization (LOA) from the owner can enter into a payment agreement.

You may be eligible to stop the water shutoff if you have a significant medical condition, are 62 years of age or older, disabled, or have children under 6 years of age living in the household. To claim an eligible exemption or enter into a payment agreement, contact DEP’s Collections Unit at 718-595-7890 Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.

To be considered for an exemption, please submit all relevant documentation to watershutoff@dep.nyc.gov. Households with occupants 62 and older may submit a copy of a valid, government-issued picture ID with proof of address. To claim exemption of a child under 6, a birth certificate or passport along with the parents’ valid ID and proof of address may be submitted. Medical conditions and disability claims can be supported with a doctor’s note.

Documentation being submitted must be for the owner or persons residing at the property in question. Proof other than what is listed above may be submitted for consideration to prove extenuating circumstances.

If you are approved for water shut off exemption, we can be flexible in the ways we assist you in resolving your delinquent account balance.

Why should my service be terminated if I never received any of my past bills?

Property owners are responsible for notifying DEP when they purchase property in New York City or when their mailing address changes. As a property owner, you should be aware that DEP is providing water and sewer service to your property. You are legally responsible for paying those charges.

How can my service be restored after being terminated due to non-payment?

You must pay in full or enter a payment agreement with a 25% down payment. You must pay with a certified bank check to restore your water and sewer service.

I am the owner and I have received a water shut off notice. I have a child under 6/elderly person in my home or I suffer from a serious medical condition. What can I do?

Please submit supporting documentation to watershutoff@dep.nyc.gov with the subject: “Shut Off Notice” for review and approval. If approved, you may be allowed to enter into a payment agreement with a lower than 25% down payment.

I am the tenant, and I received a water shut off notice. What should I do?

Please notify your landlord immediately. DEP takes payments by phone, online, in person, and by mail. We cannot discuss the account with you if you do not have the required authorization.

I am the tenant, and I received a water shut off notice. I have a child under 6/elderly person in my home or I suffer from a serious medical condition.

Please submit supporting documentation to watershutoff@dep.nyc.gov with the subject: “Shut Off Notice” with proof of address for review and approval and contact your landlord immediately.

The owner(s) is deceased, what should I do?

Please submit a copy of the death certificate and start to make payments to resolve the outstanding account balance. You will not be able to enter into a payment agreement with the NYC Water Board unless you have documentation from the courts authorizing you to do so.

Legal Referral FAQs

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What should I do if I have received a Legal Referral Warning Notice from DEP?

You should contact Customer Service to find out your payment options.

What if I have a dispute with my bill once I receive a Legal Referral Warning Notice?

You should contact Customer Service. The representative will connect you with the responsible unit that will advise you what to do.

I received a welcome letter from an attorney stating that they are working with DEP. Can I still work with DEP to resolve my bill?

No. Unfortunately, once you receive that letter, you will need to contact the attorney at the phone number listed on the letter to make payment arrangements.

If I am unsure about an attorney contacting me in writing or by phone and want to verify, what should I do?

You should contact Customer Service to verify that the attorney contacting you is working for DEP, and that DEP did refer your account for collection actions.