In California, low-income residents can get ongoing state help to pay for electricity, health care coverage and telephone service, among other things.

But for the most part, people struggling to make ends meet can’t get similar assistance for water and sewer bills.

That’s changing for the immediate future, and maybe in the long run as well.

People in need can apply for one-time grants of up to $2,000 for water and sewer debts through the federally funded Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program, which began rolling out earlier this summer.

Locally, eligibility requirements and applications can be found on a webpage of the Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee on Anti-Poverty of San Diego County (maacproject.org/lihwap). MAAC, the San Diego County Water Authority and Campesinos Unidos recently announced they are teaming up to spread the word and assist with the program.