The Gretna City Council has revamped rules for customers seeking to avoid disconnection of water service and created guidelines to help in hardship cases.
The Times-Picayune reports the revisions give residents 15 days after a second delinquent notice to pay bills or negotiate an arrangement with the water department to do so.
Councilman Vincent Cox says he worked with city administrators on the changes after a constituent, who had lost his job, was cut off from water service.
Under the hardship rules, delinquent customers must pay half their bills and are given 60 days to get the account up to date.
Residents will soon receive notice of the changes, which were approved by the council this past week.