An Atlanta business owner is grappling with a nearly $30,000 water bill for an empty lot that initially lacked even a water line, according to a report by FOX 5 Atlanta. Jeff Raw of Revive Construction Group voiced his frustration over an appeals process with the Department of Watershed Management that he described as a "kangaroo court."
Fighting the water company, Raw's appeal and subsequent one failed, leaving the construction company on the hook for the exorbitant sum, despite evidence suggesting there was no physical way for the water to have been used or connected to a nonexistent structure. As Raw told FOX 5 Atlanta, "We never used water from our meter." However, the Atlanta Watershed Management denied bill readjustment, and the Sewer and Water Appeals Board, where customers lose 80% of the cases, backed the original decision.
The trouble began when a stand-alone water meter, installed by Department of Watershed Management employees, registered 305,184 gallons of water in a month, the volume of water equivalent to around 100 swimming pools, all while the new home on the property lacked even a foundation. During five months of bills for a vacant lot with no connection to the water meter, total charges amounted to $29,669.43. An adjustment appeared imminent when a utility official attributed the balance to a water leak caused by the Department of Watershed Management, reducing the owed amount to $219.24. This was quickly rescinded as a spokesperson claimed the reduced sum was a mistake, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
Meanwhile, Atlanta residents who have experienced sudden spikes in their water bills may be victims of undetected leaks. “The average household's leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year and ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day. Fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save homeowners about 10 percent on their water bills.” according to the EPA’s Water Sense program, as reported by the Leak Doctor. The company specializes in advanced technology for leak detection and insists that quick intervention can save homeowners around 10 percent on their water bills. With the Silent ways to find the source of leaks, the Leak Doctor can not only prevent waste but also mitigate potential damage to the property.
