CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Chicago City Council held a long hearing on Tuesday over the problems of sky-high water bills and the sometimes-futile efforts made to lower them.
Tuesday’s hearing, which lasted for more than two hours, began with a procession of public comment horror stories. Among the speakers was Yazmin Juarez, who recalled when her family unexpectedly received a $64,000 water bill.
“This was more than my annual college tuition and equivalent to 6 million gallons of water in just two months,” Juarez said. “In comparison, the Shedd Aquarium reportedly holds about 5 million gallons of water.”
She said it was psychological terror before finally being resolved.
Acting City Comptroller Chasse Rehwinkel admitted that, thanks to some aging or faulty water meters — or a lack of water meters — some big jumps in water bills are unjustified in the city. Regardless, he told alderpersons, they’re a shock.
“I share your concern and commit to this body that the department of finance will work diligently with City Council, our sister departments and impacted Chicago residents to address this issue so that Chicagoans are not burdened by unexpected water bills,” Rehwinkel said.
Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th) noted that people who testified at the hearing said water department personnel were inaccessible or uncaring.
“A lot of this could be taken care of if you all would just answer the phone. People shouldn’t have to come to the alderman’s office to get us to intercede when you all could just answer the phone.”
She suggested that the department asked for more money at budget time for better customer service.
Anne Evens, who heads an utility assistance group called Elevate, testified that they’ve studied problems of mistaken or unwarranted bills. She said bills are often overestimated when there’s no meter.
“What we recommend is we accelerate universal metering to all residential accounts, which we know also includes lead service replacement,” she said.
Finance committee members said the help is coming way too slowly.
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