Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program Establishment Act

This bill authorizes the establishment of the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), a permanent federal initiative designed to help low-income households manage their drinking water and wastewater service costs. Under this program, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, would award grants to eligible states and Indian tribes to provide financial assistance. These grants are specifically intended to help households cover arrearages and current rates for water and wastewater services, thereby preventing disconnections and ensuring continued access to these essential utilities. A household is considered low-income if it participates in certain federal assistance programs like SNAP or LIHEAP, or if its income does not exceed thresholds such as 150 percent of the poverty level or 60 percent of the state median income. The legislation also provides for rural, underserved, and Indian tribe access grants , enabling qualified nonprofit organizations to help local water systems in these areas connect with LIHWAP funding. Funds from this program are authorized to supplement, rather than replace, existing water assistance efforts, with an appropriation of $500,000,000 annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out its provisions.