As the federal government shutdown drags on toward day 20, Washington is now struggling to pay some of its water bills.

A top official from DC Water, the water authority for the nation’s capital, said they received an email from the Treasury Department last week saying it could only pay about $10.5 million of the $16.5 million it owed for the second quarter of fiscal 2019, according to the Washington Post.

That news prompted quite the debate amongst the DC Water board at its first board meeting of 2019, reports WAMU, American University’s NPR station.

Following an announcement of the Treasury Department’s email, DC Water board chairman Tommy Wells said to the group, “That brings up an interesting question. Is there a time from nonpayment when we cut someone’s water off?”

“1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, is that what you’re talking about?” another board member asked, prompting laughter among the group.

The federal government is the largest consumer of water in Washington, DC, and the government shutdown has resulted in its water bill being past due.

DC law does allow the water authority to shut off water if a customer is past 30 days late in paying their bill.

DC Water spokesman Vincent Morris told WAMU, “Conceivably, DC Water can shut off service for nonpayment to any customer. We don’t do it very often, it’s a last resort, we never want to do it.”

When asked if DC Water would consider threatening to shut off water to the White House, Congress and other government buildings, Morris said it was “an interesting idea,” adding, “Water is leverage, no one wants to go without it.”

In a statement to The Post, however, Morris said: “My remarks were lighthearted and not policy. We have made it crystal clear repeatedly that no plans exist for shutting off water services to the federal government.”

DC Water stated in a press release: “Since the Federal government pays in advance, its account is not past due, and DC Water is not contemplating shutting off water to any Federal properties. We anticipate the outstanding balance for the second quarter will be paid in full once the shutdown ends.”