Atlanta water officials say the city is carrying nearly $233 million in unpaid water and sewer bills, prompting plans for a new assistance program, late fees and potentially more service shutoffs.
Atlanta News First reported Tuesday night that the total delinquent balance has dropped from about $236 million two weeks ago, but city leaders still describe the long-running debt as a serious problem.
Nearly one in four active accounts is delinquent
A Sept. 15 city audit found the delinquent balance had grown by roughly $39 million since 2023, while the number of delinquent accounts increased from more than 54,000 to more than 60,000. The audit found nearly a quarter of active accounts are behind.
Watershed Management Commissioner Greg Eyerly said the department is launching a program called FLOAT to help customers get current before a shutoff. Officials also plan to begin charging a 5% late fee in early 2027.
Shutoffs could increase
The city is averaging about 60 residential shutoffs per week. Officials said accounts more than 60 days past due are at risk of disconnection, and the department may need to increase its shutoff pace as staffing improves.
City leaders also stressed that residents of apartment complexes should not automatically bear the consequences of large debts held by property owners. The audit found the top 50 residential properties account for nearly $40 million in unpaid balances.
Eyerly said the city does not expect to recover roughly $150 million of the total debt. The next major steps are the rollout of FLOAT, staffing increases and the planned late-fee policy.
