Your bill / Help paying
Help with the bill, and who can get it
most a year in CAP credit, on fees including Bay fee
The WSSC Water Customer Assistance Program offers credits up to $247 a year, waived late fees and a free yearly leak check, for households enrolled through OHEP at up to 200% of the federal poverty level.
By the Your Water Numbers desk, not WSSC Water · Updated · How we check
Look up your number: what each kind of help is worth
| Help | Worth | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Fee credit | Up to $247 a year | Includes the Bay fee; check the current page |
| Late fees | Permanently waived | For CAP customers |
| Excess usage charges | Removed for one billing cycle | Once in any 3-year period |
| Leak investigation | Free, once a year | Plumbing leak check |
| Leak repair | Up to $9,000 a year | Homeowner living there, in CAP; not sewer or drain |
Source: CAP and CAP Leak Repair pages · FY27, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027
Reading this: An older FY26 bill sheet says $286. The current CAP page says $247, which is the figure we use, so confirm it when you apply.
Who qualifies for CAP this year?
Households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, for the period July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. You qualify through the Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP) enrollment.
To stay in the program, re-enroll with OHEP. Dollar limits by household size are not in what we read, so take them from the CAP page or OHEP directly.
What is the credit worth against a real bill?
It covers most fixed charges at its maximum. Four quarters of fixed fees on a 5/8-inch meter come to $293.52 (our arithmetic).
Source: CAP page; yearly total is our arithmetic · FY27, 5/8-inch meter
At 145 gallons a day, four 90-day bills come to $1,276.76, so the credit is about 19.3% of the year (our arithmetic). Usage still has to be paid. That is where the gallons-a-day table and a leak hunt help.
What if a leak is what’s breaking the budget?
Start with the free investigation, then look at repair. CAP Leak Repair, run with Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland, pays for up to $9,000 a year in leak repair.
Limits you should know:
- You must be the homeowner and live in the house
- You must be enrolled in CAP
- Sewer and drain work is not covered
- The FY27 program budget is $700,000
If every job hit the cap, that budget covers about 77 homes (our arithmetic). Real jobs may cost less, but it is not a bottomless fund, so ask early.
Price yours on the leak table. Even a worn flapper adds $57.46 per 90-day bill at 145 gallons a day (our arithmetic).
Does anything help without CAP?
Yes, two things. The Bay fee has a hardship exemption. Any customer can also read the unexplained high bill terms, which are not tied to income in what we read.
WSSC Water also has a Water Fund page. We have no figures for it, so read it for current terms.
How much money is set aside?
FY27 total customer assistance support is $10.6 million, up 20%. That sits alongside a 5.0% average rate rise and a possible larger one in FY28.
The order that saves the most
Enroll first, because several benefits depend on it. Whether you live in Oxon Hill or Silver Spring, the same order works:
- Enroll with OHEP
- Confirm CAP status with WSSC Water
- Ask for the annual leak investigation
- Apply for repair help if something is found
What to do with this number
- Check your income against 200% of the federal poverty level
- Enroll through OHEP, then confirm the credit shows up
- Book the free leak investigation once CAP is active
- Mark your calendar for OHEP re-enrollment so the credit does not lapse
Questions on this page
Can a renter use CAP Leak Repair?
The repair program requires a homeowner living in the home. Ask WSSC Water about the rest of CAP if you rent and pay the bill.
Does CAP cover a broken sewer line?
The Leak Repair program does not cover sewer or drain work. It is for water leaks.
Does the credit run out if I do nothing?
Staying in CAP depends on re-enrolling with OHEP, so missing that step can end it.
Why does an old bill sheet list $286?
That sheet is from FY26. The current CAP page lists $247.
Where each number comes from
| Figure | What it is | Source | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| $247, 200%, waived late fees | CAP terms | WSSC Water Customer Assistance Program page | July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 |
| $9,000; $700,000 | Leak repair cap and FY27 budget | WSSC Water CAP Leak Repair | FY27 |
| $10.6 million, 20% | Total customer assistance support | Assistance pages at the utility | the FY27 total |
| Hardship exemption | Bay fee | WSSC Water Bay exemption | hardship terms |
| Water Fund | Named assistance fund, no figure used | WSSC Water fund page | no figure |
| $293.52, $1,276.76, 77 homes | Worked from fees and rates | Our arithmetic from WSSC rates | Nov. 2026 |