SHELBY, Mich. – There were more than a few reasons Eduardo Garcia was beyond shocked when in March, he opened up his water bill to find the amount due sitting at over $400. For one, he lived alone at the time, and says he didn’t use much water in general. Alongside that, he spent the better part of a given week on the road, working his job as a trucker – another reason the astronomical amount surprised him.
The next month, it was the same. High bill, no changes in his habits. He called a technician from his meter company out to check for leaks – no leaks. Garcia was baffled.
“I don’t know how I could have a $300-400 water bill when I’m not there,” he said. “It was very frustrating.”
It turns out, after some investigation by Garcia, the Village of Shelby DPW, and several other residents experiencing the same thing, the problem appeared to be a setting on the meter. It was reading in gallons, not cubic feet. That skyrocket readings to 7.5 times the amount it should have been.
The devices were installed by meter company ETNA, and while the DPW has credited the affected accounts and believes they have tracked down all the known cases, there may still be more out there. If you believe you have experienced high water bills due to meter settings, reach out to the FOX 17 newsroom at 616-264-1717.
