A woman from Queens, New York City, was stunned to find her latest water bill would cost her $20,000. Despite her attempts to dispute the charges, 86-year-old Margaret McGowen hasn't been able to get rid of them.
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For someone who had been living in Queens all her life, this widowed grandmother knew how to handle water maintenance. That was until her latest bill, which skyrocketed in price compared to its usual cost. "My normal bill, historically, was $200 to $300 a quarter, and this was $20,000," said McGowen.
$20,000 Water Bill Given To 86-Year-Old Woman
After appealing twice to dispel the bill, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection denied them both. On top of that, CBS News reported that the DEP told them how they believe there could be a "significant water leak" in her home.
"Technicians have visited the property several times to confirm all equipment is working properly," they said. "Property owners are responsible for fixing water leaks and may be eligible for financial forgiveness if the leak is fixed promptly."
Strangely, McGowan reported how her bills lowered back to normal after the DEP replaced her water meter. We don't yet know how this happened as the DEP didn't speak on how this occurred.
McGowan, being an 86-year-old woman, doesn't have the savings to pay for this obscene charge. The DEP is also now threatening to "put a lien on the house" if she doesn't pay the bill.
It seems that she was back-billed at a much higher rate than expected. This is a type of catch-up bill where McGowen would be paying for the water she hadn't been charged for the past two years.
No matter the reason, New York State Senator John Liu blames the DEP for this spiked charge. "This is a classic case of government gone awry," he said, also believing that the DEP isn't speaking the whole truth on the matter.
"The DEP is claiming that this woman used enough water to fill 10 swimming pools every single month for two years," he added. "It's just inexplicable."
Perhaps McGowan and Liu speaking up on the issue will raise awareness of this ridiculous bill. Hopefully, the DEP is just bluffing, and McGowan can continue to live in her residence in peace.
