Atlanta woman says water bill jumped from $13 to $20,000 a month despite ‘no working plumbing’ in her building

Atlanta woman: Water bill rose from $13,000 to $20,000 a month even though the plumbing in her building wasn't working

They say you can't fight back against City Hall, but one Atlanta woman is doing just that because she received a series of water bills totaling around $13 a month and the utility company claimed she owed them more than $81,000 for their services.

Gail Mapp says her problems began after she inherited a run-down ceramics shop in town. The water bill for the unused building was initially $13.12 a month. The city's Office of Watershed Management installed a new meter register – the device that records water usage – in December 2022. Her next bill hit her like a cold blow.

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“I saw $16,000,” Mapp told Fox 5 Atlanta about the charges in January 2023. The following month, her bill rose to $17,478, and in March 2023, it was $17,609. In April 2023, she was billed $20,231.

After several months, the utility company claimed she owed $81,083 in water bills. Mapp says she plans to contest the balance in court.

This is what happened:

“No functioning lines”

When Mapp received his fourth outrageous water bill, he hired the first of three plumbers to inspect the building.

“They said there was no water and no working pipes in the building,” she explained. “No water is coming from the meter into the building.”

That same month, in April 2023, the city sent a technician to the site. According to Fox 5, his records showed that “no leak was found” on the city side of the meter.

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Mapp requested an adjustment to her bill, but was initially denied. In March of last year, she took her claim to an appeal hearing, where a city official suggested that there could be a leak in the building even without plumbing. But Mapp insists there is no leak – and certainly not one that would use nearly 700,000 gallons of water in a single month – based on the evidence the plumbers presented to her.

The water meter was replaced a second time, and by September 2023, her bill dropped back to $13.12, according to Mapp. As for the outstanding balance, the city would eventually credit the account for $5,000, according to Fox 5, leaving Mapp liable for around $76,000. She says she plans to take the city to court for the remaining amount.

The story continues

What property owners can do

According to Fox 5 Atlanta, Mapp's isn't the only building in the immediate area that has had water problems. The newsroom says city records show other nearby buildings also had “unusually high water usage.” With utility bills rising, owners need to take action to fix the problem before it leads to huge utility debts.

A common reason for rising water bills is leaks in the pipes. Constantly running toilets or dripping faucets can increase water usage and drive up your water bill. Leaks in unexpected places, such as the foundation, can not only drive up your bill, but potentially lead to expensive building damage. If you notice anything unusual, it may be wise to call a plumber to determine if there are any other unforeseen problems.

If you believe there is a billing error, contact the utility provider to see if it can be fixed—the sooner the better. You should keep a record of who you spoke to and when, and be prepared to provide details about why you believe the error is with the provider.

If that doesn't work, you may have other options available to you depending on where you live. In some states, the next step is to appeal the decision to either the utility company or the state utility commission. As a last resort, you may decide to contest the bills in court. This can be a costly and lengthy process that involves hiring an attorney and paying fees.

Even if there are no outstanding issues with a building's plumbing system, experts say utility costs for this vital resource are rising. Combined household water and sewer bills have increased an average of 4.1% annually over the past 12 years, according to Bluefield Research.

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This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.