NYC water-bill scofflaws get reprieve as city aims to collect $1.2B

 The city’s water-bill amnesty program designed to recoup hundreds of millions of dollars is being extended another month – after reaping a fraction of what’s owed. 

Mayor Eric Adams announced Monday that the program — which has collected $80 million of the $1.2 billion outstanding from customers since January — will now have a May 31 end date.

Hizzoner threatened to shut off water to delinquent customers after that.

“[Y]ou don’t have to pay your bill all at once. If you can’t for whatever reason, we could put you on a payment plan,” Adams said at a City Hall press conference.

“But if you refuse to do so, we have to take stronger steps. Because if we don’t, it’s going to fall on the backs of your fellow New Yorkers, and we cannot allow mega-builders in particular and mega mansions who fail to pay their water bills anymore.”

The program permits the waiver of interest payments up to 100% if a bill is paid in full; 75% if half the bill is covered, and 50% if a quarter is paid off. 

Adams said a notice of nonpayment was placed on the D&D Building at 979 Third Ave. in Manhattan on Monday morning around 7:30 a.m. because its owners — 979 Third Avenue Associates LLC — have an outstanding water bill of more than $400,000. 

Mayor Eric Adams announced that the city’s water-bill amnesty program will end on May 31.

Paul Martinka

A water bill notice for D&D Building at 979 Third Ave. in Manhattan, which owes the city more than $400,000.

Paul Martinka

The company called City Hall at 10:30 a.m. to set up a payment plan.

“Those are real dollars – and we have to recoup them to continue the water service that we are providing,” he said. 

Right now, the city has a list of 50 office buildings that owe a combined $7 million and another 50 single family homes that owe $8.7 million. 

Adams threatened to shut off water for people or companies who don’t pay their bills or start a payment plan after the deadline.

Paul Martinka

“Basically, anybody who’s more than 180 days overdue with their water bill is potentially at risk of water shut-offs. Now, we are not going to shut off everybody’s water at the same time. So we are prioritizing,” said the city’s Department of Environmental Protection commissioner, Rohit Aggarwala.

“We are prioritizing those buildings that owe large balances, starting with buildings that owe more than $100,000, that have owed it for more than 180 days.”

https://nypost.com/2023/05/01/nyc-water-bill-scofflaws-get-reprieve/