MANSFIELD — The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA] moratorium on water utility shut-offs because of the COVID 19 pandemic officially expired July 10.
The lifting of the moratorium means that the City of Mansfield can begin to terminate water service to customers who in accordance with its ordinances have delinquent accounts.
“While the City recognizes that the economic impact of the pandemic has put a strain on many, it must be emphasized that the OEPA directive only prevented the shutting off of services,” said Public Works Director Dave Remy. “It did not in any way forgive water service charges, past or present.”
Any past due amounts whether COVID 19 related or pre-COVID 19 related are still due and will be collected. Consequently, in assessing the total situation, the ity administration has decided to wait until Aug. 3, 2020 to resume water shut-offs.
In the meantime, the city encourages any customer who may need financial assistance in paying water service charges, past or present, to seek assistance from social service agencies and community-based charitable services to avoid termination.
