St. Louis residents affected by last year’s devastating tornado have until Oct. 31 to enroll in a city program that cuts their water rates in half and provides financial relief to households struggling with overdue bills.
The Tornado Recovery Water Affordability Program offers a 50% reduction in water rates through December 2028, regardless of whether residents are behind on their payments. Those with outstanding balances may also qualify for credits, extended repayment plans and waived fees.
The deadline comes after the resumed water shutoffs on Sept. 30, ending a moratorium that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. The relief program offers reduced rates and repayment options to help residents maintain water service.
When the program was announced in August, 4,164 water accounts in tornado-affected neighborhoods were delinquent, with outstanding balances totaling approximately $4.34 million, according to city officials.
Nearly 1,900 accounts owed $500 or less, while about 720 households owed more than $2,000. Some of the unpaid balances accumulated during the pandemic, when the city suspended water disconnections for nonpayment.
“The tornado added another significant financial burden for families already working to recover and regain stability,” Mayor Cara Spencer said when the program was announced. “Our goal with this program is simple: help residents achieve a lower balance, a manageable payment, and a lower water bill going forward.”
Residents with overdue bills can receive a credit reflecting the 50% rate reduction retroactive to May 2025, reducing the amount they owe. The remaining balance can be paid over as many as 24 months, with extensions to 36 months available in some cases.
For residents whose homes have been uninhabitable since the May 16, 2025, tornado, the city will forgive water charges accumulated since the disaster and stop additional fees from accruing.
Those who enroll also qualify for waivers of interest and late fees, along with a one-time waiver of shutoff and reconnection fees.
The assistance is authorized under Ordinance 72155, legislation sponsored by Alderman Michael Browning and approved by the Board of Aldermen earlier this year.
Under the ordinance, residents with overdue bills may be required to remain current on an approved repayment plan to keep their reduced water rates. Those who fall behind risk losing the discount.
“Water is essential, and disconnection is always our last resort,” said Niraj Patel, the city’s director of public utilities. “What we are putting in place are the tools, including rate reductions and extended payment timelines, to help residents maintain water service.”
Residents who previously applied for tornado recovery assistance have already been prequalified for the water affordability program, according to the city. They must still enroll to receive the benefits.
Other residents affected by the tornado can also apply.
Residents can enroll online at stlrecovers.com or in person at the STLRecovers Outreach Center, 4401 Natural Bridge Ave., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. A photo ID is required for online and in-person applications.
Residents can also call the Water Division at 314-771-2255 for assistance.
The enrollment deadline is Saturday, Oct. 31. The outreach center’s final regularly scheduled weekday for applications is Friday, Oct. 30. The city has also announced plans for enrollment events in tornado-affected neighborhoods, although dates and locations for any remaining events have not been confirmed.