Investigates

Nearly 2 years later, PWSA customers still complaining about high water bills

PITTSBURGH — For nearly two years, calls and complaints from Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority customers about outrageously high water bills have poured in to Target 11.

Target 11 Investigator Rick Earle took those complaints to the PWSA but was told they’re too busy to talk.

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From Greenfield to Shadyside, disgruntled customers have complained about their water bills.

Jonathan Ferrin, of Greenfield, said his bill, which is normally $100 a month, went up to $1,000.

“She (a PWSA rep) said, ‘You must have a leak.’ I said, ‘I've lived here forever. If there's a $1,000 dollar leak somewhere, my house would be floating down Greenfield Avenue,” Ferrin said.

Ferrin said he hired a plumber, who found no leaks. Every time he said he’s called PWSA, he’s gotten a different story. He said a spokesperson now tells him it’s a “catch up” bill.

“I flat out said this sounds like fraudulent extortion,” Ferrin said.

Charlie Phillips told Channel 11 News that his retired father lives by himself in Shadyside, where his monthly water bill is about $90. However, for two months, his bill was more than $8,000.

“There's no way one person could (have that high of a bill), whatever you are doing, unless you are running a water park,” Phillips said.

A plumber that Phillips hired found a small leak in his father’s basement, but he said it was nothing that would have resulted in a half a million gallons of water, which is enough to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

To make matters worse, because Phillips’ father signed up for automatic withdrawal, PWSA took more than half of the money directly out of his bank account without warning.

“Once he was over drafted, he couldn't pay the other ones. Once he couldn't pay the other bills, he gets the fees for all that and those bills. I mean it just keeps racking up,” Phillips said.

Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Deb Gross, who’s on the PSWA board, said some of the billing issues were related to a software problem with new wireless meters.

“If there's a systematic systemic problem, then we need a systemic solution. It's not fair to tell each individual ratepayer that they are wrong and the system is correct,” she said. “It's apparent that whatever problems were promised to be fixed have not been fixed.”

Customers who spoke with Target 11 said they’re appealing their bills, but that can be a lengthy process. For example, Gill Jethroe has been fighting a $16,000 bill at a vacant house he owns in East Liberty for nearly two years.

PWSA denied his complaint. Jethroe appealed to the Common Pleas Court, where PWSA agreed to cut his bill in half. Jethroe refused, and the case will now be heard by a judge.

“I got to (push this). It's over $1,700,” Jethroe told Target 11. “It's not fair, especially for people like us that are trying to make it month-to-month.”

A PWSA spokesperson told Earle Wednesday that they cut Ferrin’s bill in half.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson said Phillips’ father filled a swimming pool, which resulted in the higher charges. Phillips, though, said his father did that last summer, adding it typically only costs about $150. He said they will continue to fight the bill.

Cox Media Group

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