‘Panic mode’: Woman’s water bill skyrockets to $344,000

Atlanta, Georgia – Alexis Jones, a single mother living in DeKalb County, Georgia, faced astronomical water charges that surpassed $344,000. This shocking amount had nothing to do with excessive consumption but was rather as a result of a persistent ghost leak in the front yard of her rented home. Interestingly, the county authorities turned a blind eye as the effect of the leak was considered as taking place on private property. Consequently, the debt was assigned to Jones as her name was on the water bill.

‘I’m in Panic Mode’

“I’m in panic mode,” Jones disclosed. “First off, I don’t have this money. Second, how did it get to this, because again, I’m using my water as normal.” According to County records, there was an explosive consumption of water recorded in January 2020 when Jones’ bill escalated from $165 to a whopping $17,000. In response, the county sent a crew to investigate, but they only managed to confirm that the meter was operational, hinting at a potential leak.

The Ghost Leak

The water leak, however, wasn’t dealt with. It continued causing havoc on private property as Jones’ water bill continuously shot up. A maintenance worker allegedly fixed a leaking shower but did not check for leaks in the yard, leading to the further escalation of Jones’ water bill. Despite the severe conditions, Jones admits she waited for over a month before informing the property owner about the leak.

Tenant’s Responsibility

Atlanta Legal Aid attorney, Erin Willoughby, explained that while tenants are not responsible for fixing leaks, they must promptly notify the property owner about it and ensure the incidence is documented. “The owner is always going to be responsible for making the repairs whether it’s a leak, an electrical issue, a hole in the roof … all of those are the homeowner’s responsibility, once they know there is a problem,” Willoughby stated.

Resolution in Sight?

DeKalb County reduced the water bill to $188,000, offering Jones a payment plan. However, Jones insisted she could not afford the payment. After consistent media coverage of this issue, the county agreed to reconsider the whopping water bill and proposed to direct the case to mediation. Subsequently, water service was restored to Jones’ house. The county publicly admitted that it was indeed the responsibility of property owners, not tenants, to fix leaks.

A recent statement from DeKalb County’s officials stated, “DeKalb County restored the customer’s water service on March 4, 2024, and the customer is responsible for any future usage. The outstanding balance was due to a water leak, which was the responsibility of the property owner to repair. The mediation will determine who is responsible for paying the outstanding balance on the account.” As it stands, the resolution is not yet final but provides a glimmer of hope to the struggling mother.