Atlanta, Georgia Relaunches FLOAT Help for Residents Behind on Water Bills

Atlanta residents who are behind on their water bills can get help in person again. The city's Department of Watershed Management relaunched its FLOAT assistance program on Monday, Nov. 2, opening help at five locations across the city while the city works through about $230 million in unpaid water bills, WSB-TV reported.

"This initiative offers flexible payment options and financial assistance to customers experiencing economic hardship," city officials said. "The program also provides opportunities to address outstanding field service requests, resolve billing discrepancies, and make necessary account adjustments."

What FLOAT offers

The program serves single-family residential customers, including customers whose balances are 61 or more days overdue, and it gives added flexibility to seniors and customers on fixed incomes, according to WSB-TV. Customers can set up payment plans that run as long as 36 months. Down payments start at 2.5 percent of the outstanding balance, which works out to about $25 on a $1,000 bill. Some eligible customers can get late fees and fines waived automatically, and the program can also apply account adjustments and one-time grants and credits.

The size of the problem

The unpaid balance is large. A city audit in August 2026 found $236 million in overdue charges spread across 60,000 accounts. The Atlanta City Council approved the water bill relief measures on Oct. 19, and the two measures passed 15 to 0. The council action gives watershed officials expanded authority to adjust single-family residential accounts from Nov. 1, 2026 through Jan. 31, 2027.

A second measure for disputed bills

The same council package covered bills that residents say are simply wrong. A separate measure lets the Water and Sewer Appeals Board credit a customer when the board finds a department recording error behind a sudden spike. The spike has to cover one month and run more than three times the customer's average over the prior 12 months, and it cannot follow a seasonal pattern such as summer watering. Coverage of the council action notes that the FLOAT authority itself is discretionary. It gives officials room to adjust an account, but it does not promise any customer a smaller balance.

Where to go

From Monday, Nov. 2, residents can apply in person at the Rosel Fann Recreation Center, the William Walker Recreation Center, the C.T. Martin Natatorium and Recreation Center, Atlanta City Hall, and the Department of Watershed Management headquarters. Residents can also call 404-546-0311 for information. The city lists other help as well, including Promise Pay, the Care and Conserve Program, and the Senior Citizen Discount Program.