CLIFTON — The Passaic Valley Water Commission is offering a program for low-income residential customers to help them pay their bills.

The new initiative, called the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program, is being funded by the Department of Health and Human Services and facilitated by the state Department of Community Affairs. Business owners are not eligible.

The utility, based on Main Avenue, pumps about 83 million gallons of drinking water each day from treatment plants in Little Falls and Wanaque to hundreds of thousands of customers in five counties.

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To be eligible for the benefits, applicants must have a gross income level at or below 60% of the state's median household income level, which is $85,245, according to the most recent census. Money for the program is granted to the utility, on behalf of customers who qualify.

Visit the Community Affairs website to register for the program. Expect at least two months for an application to be processed by the state.

Philip DeVencentis is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.