COOK COUNTY – Cook County, in collaboration with Elevate, announced the launch of the Cook County Water Affordability Program, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to assist suburban Cook County residents struggling with their water bills.
The $11.5 million program, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), was passed unanimously before the Cook County Board of Commissioners in May 2024. The program will provide water bill relief, residential leak repairs, and water affordability technical assistance for municipalities.
This initiative responds to a growing water affordability crisis. The cost of water has risen faster than any other tracked household expense since 2015,¹ causing many residents to fall behind on their water bills.
“Tens of thousands of families are struggling to pay their water bills every day,” said Elevate Chief Executive Officer Dr. Anne Evens. “And our work through this new program is estimated to prevent thousands of water shutoffs and spark over $2 million in overall benefits by restoring access to water for communities.”
Water Affordability Technical Assistance
Applications for a technical assistance opportunity open today. Ten spots are available for municipalities interested in developing water affordability action plans. This deep dive into water billing data will help them determine the breadth and extent of water affordability issues in their communities and recommend strategies to address them. Following these analyses, municipalities will have the opportunity to apply for up to $300,000 to implement some of the recommendations.
- To apply, interested municipalities should fill out the brief application form no later than October 18, 2024. CookCountyTAP.org/Applications
- Consultants interested in conducting these analyses should submit a proposal by September 30, 2024. More information can be found on Elevate’s website at this link: ElevateNP.org/contract-with-us
Water Bill Relief
Water bill relief will help suburban Cook County residents who have fallen behind on their water bills and who are at risk of water shutoffs. This program will work with water utilities in municipalities with the highest percentages of Income-Qualified Census Tracts (QCTs) and automatically enroll residents with past-due balances who live in qualified areas. Elevate and BED will be contacting eligible municipalities to learn more later this year.
Residential Leak Repair
The Cook County Leak Repair Program will address one of the root causes of high water bills: leaks and wasteful fixtures. Residents can expect to lower their water bills by repairing leaks and replacing inefficient and outdated fixtures. Residents who have had water shut off in their homes can also receive support for more extensive plumbing repairs. Applications for residents interested in leak repair will open later this year.
- Plumbing contractors who are interested can respond to the Invitation for Bid by September 30, 2024. More information can be found on Elevate’s website at this link: ElevateNP.org/contract-with-us