City Council - City Services Committee Hearing on Docket #0932

• Governing Body: City Council Committee on City Services
• Meeting Type: Committee Hearing
• Date: August 14, 2026
• Chair: Councilor Ed Flynn (District 2)
• Docket #0932: Order for a hearing to discuss discounts for seniors and persons with disabilities by the Boston Water and Sewer Commission.

Committee Members Present:

• Councilor Ed Flynn, Chair

Panelists:

• Nicholas Rossi, Chief Administrative Officer, Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC)
• Darlene Wallace, Director of Account Services, BWSC
• Dolores Randolph, Chief Communications Officer, BWSC
• Emily Shea, Commissioner, Age Strong Commission

Absence Letters Read into Record:

• Councilor Enrique Pepén
• Councilor Erin Murphy

The committee discussed the current discount program administered by the BWSC. Key details include:

• Discount Amount: Eligible homeowners receive a 30% discount on monthly water, sewer, and stormwater charges.
• Eligibility Requirements:
  1. Homeowners must be age 65 or older OR fully disabled.
  2. The property must be an owner-occupied residential dwelling (1-4 family properties).
  3. The account must be in the homeowner's name (trusts are reviewed on a case-by-case basis; LLCs generally do not qualify).
• Current Enrollment: Approximately 11,000 homeowners currently receive the discount, including 900 individuals classified as fully disabled.
• Application Process: Residents must complete a one-time application (available via PDF, online, or in-person) and provide proof of age or a letter from a doctor/Social Security Administration stating they are 'fully disabled.'
• Legal Language: Nicholas Rossi noted the terminology originates from the BWSC Enabling Act of 1977: "The Enabling Act also allows the Commission to provide reduced rates for persons 65 years or older and for fully disabled persons."

The BWSC highlighted several additional programs to assist residents with infrastructure costs:

• No-Cost Private Lead Replacement Incentive Program: Offers free replacement of lead service pipes from the meter to the water main.
• Sewer Lateral Financial Assistance Program: Provides up to $8,000 in assistance for repairing blocked, collapsed, or leaking waste pipes.
• Leak Up To Owner Program: Offers repairs for water service pipe leaks at a reasonable cost, with interest-free payment plans for up to 24 months.
• Sewer Abatement: Allows for the installation of a separate meter to calculate water usage that does not enter the sewer system.
• Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Grant: Provides credits of up to 50% for eligible property owners.
• Payment Plans: The BWSC offers manageable payment plans extending up to six years for residents facing financial hardship.

The Age Strong Commission and BWSC detailed efforts to reach vulnerable populations:

• Multilingual Outreach: Brochures and advertisements are provided in multiple languages, including Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin.
• Community Engagement: BWSC participates in Age Strong's cost-saving clinics and Medicare open enrollment events (scheduled for October 15 – December 7).
• Seniority Magazine: Information is regularly published in this magazine, which has a print run of 15,000 copies.
• Water Conservation Kits: BWSC distributes kits containing low-flow showerheads and dye tabs to help residents detect toilet leaks.

• Veteran Eligibility: Councilor Flynn raised concerns regarding the term 'fully disabled,' noting that many veterans are classified by the VA as 'service-connected disabled' at various percentages (e.g., 100% or 90%). He requested that BWSC explore updating language to better accommodate disabled veterans.
• Leak Detection: Nicholas Rossi explained that while BWSC monitors 88,000 accounts and can see consumption spikes via hourly meter readings, they encourage residents to use the online CSS portal to monitor their own usage and set up notifications.
• Tenant Eligibility: It was clarified that tenants are not eligible for the discount as the homeowner is the responsible party for the water bill.

• Public Testimony: No members of the public signed up to testify in person or virtually.
• Adjournment: Chair Flynn adjourned the meeting following closing remarks from the panelists.