DeKalb County and Urban League Launch the Water Rate Assistance Program (W.R.A.P.)

DeKalb County and the Urban League of Greater Atlanta (Atlanta, GA) are working together to make sure water stays within reach for our most vulnerable residents. The new Water Rate Assistance Program (W.R.A.P.) is designed to help eligible low-income households manage their water and sewer bills, even as a necessary 10% rate increase takes effect.

This year’s adjustment is part of a long-term plan to strengthen and modernize DeKalb’s aging water and sewer infrastructure, with a 10% rate increase scheduled each January for the next decade. These investments will help reduce water main breaks, prevent costly service disruptions, and ensure safe, clean water for decades to come.

“We understand that any increase can be difficult for some households,” said CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson. “That is why we have partnered with the Urban League of Greater Atlanta to launch WRAP. This program will help keep water service affordable for our most vulnerable residents while we make the necessary investments to protect public health and support our county’s growth.”

How W.R.A.P. Works

WRAP limits eligible households’ water and sewer bills to no more than 4.5% of their annual income, a level below the affordability thresholds recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the United Nations. If a household’s current bill is already below that percentage, they will not be eligible.

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