COVID-19 Relief Available To Newport News Waterworks Customers

Press release from the City of Newport News:

This year has been difficult and many continue to suffer financially due to the coronavirus and its impact on individuals, families, the economy and workplaces. For residents and small business owners facing past due utility bills as a result of COVID-19, help has arrived. Thanks to funding received through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Hampton Roads water and wastewater utilities created the Municipal Utility Relief Program to provide assistance to residents and businesses with COVID-related past due balances.

If you have overdue water and wastewater utility bill charges that occurred between March 1 and December 30, 2020, you may be eligible for assistance. To receive funding, you must self-certify that COVID-related issues caused economic hardship. This includes layoffs or job losses due to business closings, a reduction in work hours, or the need to stay home to provide childcare because of school or daycare closures or a loss in child or spousal support. Relief also covers those who have been unable to work or who have missed work due to contracting COVID-19, those who have been unable to find employment because of the pandemic, or residents who are unable to continue to work due to a high risk of severe illness.

Newport News Waterworks has limited funds available to customers with past due bills that are a result of the criteria above. To apply, complete the form online and email it to wwcs@nnva.gov. You may also place completed and signed forms in the drop box outside the Waterworks office in City Center (700 Town Center Drive). Applications for support from Newport News Waterworks must be received by January 22, 2021. If you have previously received CARES ACT money for a specific water utility bill, you are not eligible to receive funding for the same bill.

For more information, contact Newport News Waterworks Customer Service Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. at 757-926-1000. To provide additional support, Waterworks has extended customer service hours on select days. Customer Service representatives will be available from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. on the following dates:

• December 21- 23
• December 28 – 30
• January 4 – 7

Representatives will also be available from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday, January 9 and Saturday, January 16. You can email Customer Service at wwcs@nnva.gov; please note “Request for CARES Assistance” in the subject line.

For additional information on Hampton Roads COVID Utility Relief, visit HRUtilityRelief.com.

This press release was produced by the City of Newport News.The views expressed here are the author’s own.