Sometimes, customer accounts are closed with a credit balance. If your account is inactive but still has credit balance, you can request a refund from DC Water for up to two years after the date the account is closed. After two years, if the credit remains unclaimed, the funds are forfeited and transferred to DC Water’s General Fund.

How to Request an Unclaimed Property Refund

• Go to https://unclaimedproperty.dcwater.com/
• Find your property using either the owner’s first and last name and/or organization name, property address, and or account number.
• Choose the applicable account
• Click “Claim”
• Complete the Unclaimed Property Form
• Attach Proof of Payment
• Click “Rightful Owner Disclaimer”
• Click “Submit”

Other Refunds

In certain cases, customers with active accounts can also request a refund of a credit balance due to an overpayment, misapplied payments or payments posted to an account in error.

How to Request Other Refunds

Refund Types

• Credit Balance Refund
• Erroneous/Misapplied Payment Transfer
• Duplicate Payment Refund

Refunds of any type will be considered and processed on a case-by-case basis.  All requests for refund must be submitted in writing.  To request a refund, send an email to refunds@dcwater.com.  Your written request must include the account number, proof of payment and include ”Refund Request” in the email subject line. For additional information, please contact our Customer Service Department at (202) 354-3600.

Refund Information

An overpayment on an account will be reflected as a credit balance. Erroneous or misapplied and duplicate payments may or may not be reflected as a credit balance if the account balance exceeds the payment amount.  

Credit Balance Refund:   
A refund of the credit balance caused by an overpayment may be requested if all the following criteria are true:

• New charges billed after the overpayment have not consumed the credit balance.
• No past due balance(s) exist(s) on any other account(s) for the same owner (owner requested refund). DC Water may transfer the credit balance to the delinquent account.
• The written request for refund is received within two (2) years of the posting date.
• Proof of payment transaction is provided.
• Acceptable proof includes canceled check, a financial statement with the transaction, and screenshot of the online transaction.
• Copies are acceptable and information unrelated to the refund request may be redacted from financial statements.

Erroneous/Misapplied or Duplicate Payments:   
A refund of the full amount of an erroneous or misapplied payment may be requested if all the following criteria are true:

• No past due balance(s) exist(s) on any other account(s) for the non-owner. DC Water may transfer the credit balance to the delinquent account.
• The written request for refund is received within two (2) years of the posting date.
• Proof of payment transaction is provided.
• Acceptable proof includes canceled check, financial statement with transaction, screenshot of online transaction.
• Copies are acceptable and information unrelated to the refund request may be redacted from financial statements.