Baltimore will resume water billing on May 8 after more than a month’s absence.

Residents will owe for water used during part of March and all of April, but those who have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic will be eligible for a discount, Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young said today.

The water discount comes after pressure from the Councilwoman Shannon Sneed and advocate groups, who had asked the mayor for a moratorium on water bills for six months and greater protections for renters.

Sneed today wrote on Twitter that Young should take more aggressive action.

“We are thankful that the mayor listened to calls from the Council and the [Baltimore Right to Water Coalition] for targeted emergency water bill relief that helps ensure the safety and well-being of our residents. However, there is much more to be done to ensure fair and equitable water access.”

Renters Not Protected

Rianna Eckel, of Food and Water Action, said the mayor hasn’t adequately protected poor renters, who often have trouble proving eligibility for a discount.

“Additional support is crucial as many residents who have lost their jobs as a result of this pandemic already received unaffordable water bills,” she wrote.

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“We urge the mayor to ensure that all tenants, who make up 53% of Baltimore, are also eligible and able to enroll in this expanded relief program.”