Arlington Customers Received Nearly $ 250,000 in Billing Assistance in 2022
Arlington residents received $ 246,675 in help with their water and sewer bills during 2022 as part of Arlington Water Utilities ’ partnerships with state and local assistance agencies . Three programs – the Arlington Water Utilities Care and Share Fund , Texas Utility Help , and the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program – provided aid to Arlington Water Utilities customers 1,158 times from Jan . 1 to Dec . 31 , 2022 .
City of Arlington Water Utilities started a program in spring 2022 called the Minor Plumbing Repair Assistance Program to help economically disadvantaged homeowners with minor plumbing repairs .
Between June 1 and Dec . 31 , 2022 , the Minor Repair Assistance Program covered $ 5,933.16 in plumbing repairs for residents . One resident who had repairs made at her home said :
“ The plumber and his apprentice were very efficient in doing the repairs , very courteous , and had me check everything when they were through . I am very pleased and thankful the City of Arlington has this program . I could not have afforded all the repairs they did .”
Volunteers Help Build Lakeside Educational Garden
Arlington Water Utilities and Tarrant Regional Water District broke ground in early 2022 on the new Lake Arlington Native Plant and Pollinator Garden . It is located on 3 acres of City-owned land near the Lake Arlington Dam . The garden includes 2,000 square feet of uniquely designed beds with native plants suitable for home landscapes , and a large area for group events ( 75-100 people ). Each bed has its own theme to demonstrate the diversity of drought-resistant plant options – a pollinator-friendly garden , a cottage garden , a traditional garden , a rain garden , and a xeriscape garden . The surrounding meadow is also being converted from nonnative , invasive grasses to native grasses and wildflowers .
The project was conceived with the following goals : To demonstrate water conservation by landscaping with native plants ; create pollinator habitat to support City initiatives such as the Mayor ’ s Monarch Initiative ; educate adults on sustainable landscaping with native plants ; educate youth on water conservation and local plants and wildlife ; and build collaboration with community partners to build expertise and educate the public about native plant landscapes .
With more than 100 volunteers already working at the site in 2022 and twice-monthly events throughout the year , the Lake Arlington Native Plant and Pollinator Garden is well on its way to becoming a valuable asset to the city ’ s water conservation education efforts .
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