Warwick Water Division crews have been out with cans of blue spray paint and have already marked the location of nearly 300 valves in preparation to carry out threats to shut off water unless payments are made on delinquent bills, Water Division Director Daniel O’Rourke said Friday.

Shutoffs, which the city has not done in the past, are a prelude to putting a property up for tax sale. It was the listing of more than 2,500 properties in a tax sale about two years ago that prompted Ward 5 Councilman Ed Ladoceur to call for a committee to examine how best the city could avert the drastic measure of a tax sale by getting delinquents to pay or go on a payment plan.

“Until then there was no program,” Ladouceur said Monday, pointing out that of the 2,500 delinquencies some had gone without a payment for three years. The committee provided for hardship cases and offered a payment plan that avoided a tax sale.

“We want to avoid the most draconian measures if we can,” said administrative director Bruce Keiser. He said delinquents with bills in excess of $1,000 have been targeted, with the largest of those first in line. He said the more than 950 delinquents falling into this group as of this June, when they were first sent letters of potential shutoffs that collectively owed more than $4 million.

On the top of that list, he said, was Universal Properties, which owed in excess of $300,000 in payments for tenants including the Olive Garden and Smokey Bones. Next in line was the Hilton Garden Inn with an outstanding balance of about $35,000. Payment plans have been reached with the owners of both properties, and in the case of Universal, future payments will be made by the tenants, Keiser said.

City tax collector Kayla Jones reported that in response to the June letter, 378 delinquents are currently on a payment plan. The plans require a down payment of 25 percent of the outstanding balance, with the remainder being paid over 12 months.

But while almost 400 have been taken off of the target list, Keiser point out that the overall list is has not declined because of the numbers surpassing that $1,000 threshold since June.

He said the shutoff letters are going to those who haven’t responded to city efforts to thus far. He said water crews are making curb stops, marking where shutoff valves are located, and placing door hangars informing them that a shutoff is imminent.

O’Rourke said the city would follow the guidelines set by the Public Utilities Commission on the shutoff of utilities and would not cut off water during winter months as followed by National Grid.

But why would the city pursue delinquencies now, especially with the election about a month away?

Keiser said the city had planned on issuing shutoff notices soon after the June letter, but there were delays in the programming to get out the notices and put the program in place.

“Those faithfully making payments would expect we would [go after those not paying],” he said.

Ladouceur is of the same mind. He said it is unfair to those paying their bills not to pursue those ignoring them.

“The city can’t just sit back and say it’s for free,” he said.

O’Rourke said locating some shutoff valves has required digging up lawns. He said the very presence of crews has prompted a flurry of payments as well as users establishing payment plans.

“We know people are hurting and don’t have means,” he said.

O’Rourke said the city seeks to verify those with disabilities and hardships in working up a payment plan. Overall, he projected 90 percent of the city’s water customers pay their bills on time. As for those who haven’t and face shutoff, he said it won’t come as a surprise.

“They’re had plenty of prior notification,” he assured.