The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (L.I.H.W.A.P.) is a 100 percent federally funded program to assist low-income households paying a high portion of their income for drinking water and wastewater services. 

The program provides assistance to low-income households to reduce arrearages of and rates charged for drinking water and wastewater services and is administered through Oklahoma Human Services (O.K.D.H.S.). O.K.D.H.S. staff will determine the household’s eligibility and the benefit amount will be paid directly to the owners and operators of the public water systems. 

The LIHWAP program is closely modeled after the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (L.I.H.E.A.P.) program including the procedures, policies, announcements, application, and approval systems

L.I.H.W.A.P. assistance payments must be applied toward the water or wastewater portion of the bill and cannot be used for any other utility service (e.g., electric, cable, or trash), just as L.I.H.E.A.P. assistance payments must be applied to electric or gas services. It is anticipated the application process for L.I.H.W.A.P. will start Tuesday, Dec. 28 in conjunction with L.I.H.E.A.P. winter heating program. The application process will be the same as for the L.I.H.E.A.P. program. 

How to Apply

Apply for the assistance at O.K.D.H.S. Live (www.okdhslive.org).