FOREST PARK, Ohio — In a large, open auditorium, a handful of city employees and representatives from Greater Cincinnati Water Works set up shop Tuesday hoping to help locals keep their water running. 

Less than a week out from GCWW’s deadline, thousands still have delinquent bills and after nearly two years of grace, their water could be shut off May 2.

What You Need To Know

  • Water shutoffs will resume in Greater Cincinnati on May 2

  • GCWW is helping those with delinquent bills adopt payment plans to prevent shutoffs

  • CAA has pandemic funds available to help cover missed payments between now and March 2020

  • Roughly 3,400 customers are still in immediate danger of shutoffs
  • GCWW is the last major metro utility in Ohio that has a pandemic moratorium

The moratorium began during the pandemic and was extended a final time in March of this year as GCWW dealt with a security breach. Now, as the pre-pandemic practices resume, Tony Searls, the Commercial Services superintendent, said there’s no reason any household should have to come to that.

“We have so many opportunities for them to avoid the water shutoffs that it will be easier for them to reach out to us beforehand than to try to get their water restored after the fact,” he said. 

From GCWW itself, there’s Promise Pay, a portal the service launched last summer to allow customers with delinquent bills to make flexible payment plans, over several months. He said all it takes is a little paperwork, a plan, and a $10 minimum down payment.  

“Then that helps the burden of paying off that past due amount,” he said. 

For those looking for help find the funds, there’s Community Action Agency, which has been providing utility assistance since the pandemic began. According to Dr. Ebony Griggs-Griffin, the vice president of community services, CAA spent more than $1.1 million in helping clients pay off water bills over the past two years and there’s still plenty more to help ahead of the May 2 cutoff. 

“It is imperative that people know that the impact of the pandemic is still there and we see it every day with those who are reaching out to us and asking for assistance,” she said. “There is still time for people to apply.”

GCWW said Forest Park has been one of the most proactive communities in addressing the needs of its residents. According to the Don Jones, the city manager about 30% of the community fell behind on their bills during the pandemic, and a few dozen immediately need help to avoid the first round of shutoffs.

“There’s enough in our community and the surrounding communities as well that we just want to be ahead of it,” he said.

Forest Park staff have been making calls, hosting events and meetings, and even went door to door to households to ensure everyone understands what’s coming and that there’s help available.

“Let ‘em know, hey, don’t ignore that bill,” Jones said. “Don’t ignore this situation. It’s real, and it’s gonna happen.”

At the height of the pandemic, GCWW reports more than 14,000 accounts were eligible for shutoffs. As of last week, that number was down to about 3,400 customers, and Jones hopes it dips even lower by the end of the month.

“So that we don’t have this crisis hit hundreds or whatever the number is, of homeowners in our community,” he said. 

Greater Cincinnati is the last major metro area in Ohio to have a pandemic moratorium for its water service. Shutoffs in Columbus and Cleveland resumed in the summer of 2021.