Water Grants and Loans

Get a water conservation grant or loan to replace your aged or leaking water line

You can receive an optional grant or loan to pay a licensed and bonded plumbing contractor that you choose to replace leaking or end-of-life water service lines at your home.

Grant and Loan Options

1. 1. A zero-interest loan up to $5,000 for up to 84 months. (We can explore exceptions for amounts and terms exceeding this criteria.)¹
   2. A grant up to $5,000 income-eligible customers. (You can supplement exceeding amounts with a deferred loan.)¹

¹ All loans are secured with a lien against your property.

Why to Apply

Maintaining the serviceable water line to your home is your responsibility, but we also know the water line isn’t an asset that many people regularly service. Making repairs on your water service line now ensures your water service’s reliability and prevents future leaks or bursts in the line. We understand that paying for unexpected home repairs out-of-pocket can create a financial strain. Our grant or zero-interest loan can help you pay for any needed repairs.

When to Apply

The water grant and loan applies to leaks or breaks discovered on your residential water service line.

Seven Simple Steps to Get a Grant or Loan

1. 1. Either you or a utility representative discovers and reports a water service line leak or break.
   2. You apply for a grant or a standard zero-interest loan and submit a contractor bid.* Click here for tips about hiring a contractor.
   3. We approve the grant or loan application.
   4. You sign documents in the presence of a notary and send them to us.
   5. We review the documents and issue a loan setup completion notice.
   6. You notify your contractor to proceed with repairs.
   7. Upon receiving an invoice from the contractor, we verify the repairs and processes the payment.

*The bid should include an itemized list of all work to be done (including any permit costs required for your respective municipality) and be signed/dated by the property owner and contractor.

Or download the application, complete and mail it with your contractor bid to:

Tacoma Public Utilities
Water Conservation Programs
3628 South 35th Street
Tacoma, WA 98409

Additional Step for Grant Applicants

To be considered for a grant, you must also complete TPU’s Bill Payment Assistance application. Our Customer Solutions team will review and approve the application before grant elibility can be confirmed. If you have already completed this application in the past with Customer Solutions, please email WaterGrantLoan@tacoma.gov to confirm your information.

If your household income is confirmed to fall below the required threshold for your household size, you will qualify for $5,000 towards the cost of replacing your water service line. You will also be enrolled in one of TPU’s Bill Payment Assistance programs, which will reduce your monthly utility bill. 

If you don’t qualify for the grant, you may still be qualified for the standard zero-interest loan as financial assistance for repairs.

We own and maintain the blue water main, service line, and water meter. You own and are responsible for the property side service lines and plumbing in orange.* The water service line is the pipe from the city’s water main to the property owner’s house.

*Most service lines resemble the configuration depicted above. There may be instances where the meter is further away from the property, resulting in a longer customer-owned service line.

Contact Us for More Information

Phone number: 253-502-8058

Email address: WaterGrantLoan@tacoma.gov

Financial assistance may be available to repair or replace your side sewer pipe through the City of Tacoma Environmental Services Sewer Conservation Loan program. Click here to learn more.