When Nellie Souter opened her water bill this week, she nearly fainted.
The total amount owing was $6,495.78.
The 70-year-old woman lives alone in the west flat.
“The last water bill I paid for these people was in April and I paid $227.72,” she said.
Souter said she had no explanation for how the amount could be so high, other than there being some sort of mix up when the city installed a new water meter at her house. She has contacted city hall since.
“They are trying to tell me that they haven’t had an actual reading on my house since Sept. 2014 and I said ‘what has your staff been doing because that’s on the outside of the house and all you have to do is point your reader at it,’” Souter said.
Souter also attempted to contact city manager Jim Toye. She was told she should write a letter to city council to plead her case.
“Why should I have to explain it if the people are not doing their job?” she asked.
Souter admitted there was a small leak in one of her basement pipes, which she described as the size of a pin hole.
“There wasn’t even two inches of water in my basement; if I had used that much water it would have been halfway up my cement wall, she said.
Toye said city staff did go over to the house to investigate and found the leak to be worse than what Souter described.
“There was water in the floor, there were boxes of cardboard which you could see had water damage,” he said.
Toye said he believes the reading was correct and city administration does not have the authority to reverse the charge.
“Because the water went through the meter, that’s what she was charged. Now, I know that is a lot of money but what I did suggest she could write or appear before city council and she could tell her story there,” he said.
Council has the authority to consider a payment plan or a cost reduction.
Toye said Souter would not have to pay a penalty until she has the opportunity to appear before city council. Souter’s water won’t be shut off either.
The city says Souter’s water meter was checked in Sept. 2015.
nmaxwell@panow.com
On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell
