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D.C. Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Regulate Water Disconnections

October 21, 2025

D.C. Council member Charles Allen has introduced legislation to reform how D.C. Water handles service disconnections amid $35 million in unpaid utility bills. The D.C. Water Billing and Disconnection Modernization Amendment Act of 2025 would require clear disconnection timelines, prohibit shutoffs during extreme weather, and mandate notifications to tenants when landlords fail to pay water bills. Many apartment buildings in D.C. use master water meters where landlords collect payments from tenants but sometimes don't forward these payments to the utility, leading to surprise disconnection notices for residents who believed they had paid.

Who is affected

  • District residents living in apartment buildings and multifamily properties
  • Landlords of buildings with master water meters
  • Tenants who pay for water through their rent
  • Seniors and people with disabilities (who would receive additional time before disconnection)
  • D.C. Water, which faces more than $35 million in unpaid bills

What action is being taken

  • Charles Allen is introducing the D.C. Water Billing and Disconnection Modernization Amendment Act of 2025
  • D.C. Water is currently initiating service disconnections at apartment buildings with unpaid bills
  • The council is building on emergency and temporary legislation passed this summer regarding disconnection notices
  • Seven city council members are co-introducing the bill alongside Allen

Why it matters

  • Water is described as "a basic human need," making disconnections a serious matter
  • Tenants are currently being surprised by disconnection notices even when they've paid their water bills to landlords
  • The legislation would create new protections during extreme weather conditions
  • The bill would improve transparency by requiring notifications in residents' languages and monthly reporting to the council
  • It would give tenants new options to maintain water service even when landlords fail to pay

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer

D.C. Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Regulate Water Disconnections