The Water4All Program, created by the Water Accountability and Equity Act, helps Baltimore City residential households that are below 200% of the federal poverty line pay for their water bill. Water4All eligibility lasts 1 year, and households can receive benefits once per year. In order to continue receiving benefits from the Water4All Program, households should apply just before their Water4All eligibility expires.
Through this guide, we will break down the seemingly overwhelming process of applying for Water4All assistance into manageable steps. If you have any questions regarding this guide, feel free to contact us at bmorebenefits@gmail.com or fill out this form. You can also fill out the form to receive help in locating resources that are not currently covered by this website! If you need additional assistance with paying for utilities, check out our OHEP Energy Assistance article.
How it Works
Water4All’s application process can either be completed online or using a physical copy (for tenants, for homeowners). To apply online, visit the WFA Application Portal. Alternatively, call (410) 396-5555 to request a paper copy of the Water4All application. Once you apply, a determination will be made, and if deemed eligible, you will either:
Receive credits if you are a participant who is a billing account holder with the Department of Public Works.
Receive a subsidy check if you are a participant who is not a billing account holder with the Department of Public Works.
As of May 2025, according to the Water4All FAQ page, credits will be sent as one-time payments. However, applicants can reapply once every year, similar to OHEP energy assistance. To learn more about how the program works, visit the Water4All FAQ page.
Eligibility
There are 2 criteria to be eligible for Water4All:
Baltimore City residents are eligible if their household income is 200% below the federal poverty line. The federal poverty levels vary by household size and can be found here. You can also verify whether you are eligible to apply based on income here.
Applicants also need documentation demonstrating they pay for water services. You can either provide your water bill with your name or submit a lease that clearly states how much you pay for water and sewer services, separate from rent.
Step-by-Step Application Process
The Water4All Application can be straightforward with proper preparation. In this section, we will take you through concrete steps needed to receive water bill assistance.
Assess your eligibility by entering your annual income, household size, and zip code.
If you are eligible, continue to the next steps.
If you are not eligible, verify the information you entered is correct, and if you have any questions, call (410) 396-5555.
Step 2: Gather required documents/information
Most recent water bill or rental lease indicating how much you pay
Gather photo ID (e.g., driver’s license, passport, state-issued ID) for each household member who is at least 18 years old.
Provide proof of income for the past 30 days for each household member at least 18 years old (e.g., pay stub, social security award letter, temporary cash assistance). If a household member does not have income, they must complete a Declaration of Zero Income form.
Step 3: Fill out an online application and note down your Water4All Registration ID (WFAID)
If you are approved for the Water4All program, you will either:
Receive credits if you are a participant who is a billing account holder with the Department of Public Works
Receive a subsidy check if you are a participant who is not a billing account holder with the Department of Public Works
Step 4: If you have NOT received any communication regarding your application for an extended period (4 weeks), call (410) 396-5555 to ask about the progress of your application.
You can check your application status here by re-entering your WFAID!
Water4All Worksheet
To help keep track of your Water4All application, we made a sheet that you can make a copy of or print out to fill out as you apply.
Thank you for visiting bmorebenefits.com! Please leave a comment if you have any concerns or questions, and we will be sure to reply! If you are looking for additional community and government resources, we would be happy to help you search. Just fill out this short form.
If you notice that any of the information on this guide needs updating or clarification, do not hesitate to contact us at bmorebenefits@gmail.com.
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