Folks fight uphill water bill battle

PRICHARD, Ala. - Most folk's house water bills never break triple digits, let alone rack up hundreds. But one woman's bill topped almost $1,000. Did we mention she lives by herself?

FOX10 introduced you to Linda Blount last week. She's the Prichard woman who got a more than $900 water bill. It turns out, she isn't the only one.

Blount still can't believe her water bill. She's taken her concern straight to Prichard's Water and Sewer Office. Our camera tagged along as Blount asked to see the Superintendent, Paul David.

"He called me and told me to come down here and sign something saying I had a leak, and he'll knock off $500," said Blount.

Yet Blount had a certified plumber inspect her pipes and he found no leaks. So, Blount refused to sign.

Our camera was asked to leave. Blount left her name and number for the Water Board's attorney.

"The Board's attorney will get back to you," said one employee.

Blount isn't the only Prichard resident waging this water war. Others share the shock of opening a high water bill.

"Seven hundred and something. I just can't afford that. It has never been this high," said one Prichard resident.

We talked to businesses in the Prichard area, including one that washes cars. Their water bill averages around $200. That's not even close to Blount's $900 bill.

A Mobile car wash said it's water bill runs less than $100 a month. The owner said he couldn't afford to stay in business in Prichard.

Blount said she just feels like she's flushing money down the drain. Others feel like the problem is just one more on a laundry list.

"This is what citizens go through every day. This is a city without hope," said S. Morris Campbell.

Morris encourages residents looking at steep water bills to request a print-out of their usage and bill for the last twelve months. Morris said Blount's showed she used enough water to flood her Alabama Village Home, according to her meter.

"Very frustrating for us residents in Prichard. It is what we have to go through. No compassion shown to anyone," added Morris.