A Buffalo, New York, couple and water company agreed on a cash settlement after a seven-year disagreement. The two parties were arguing over an incident that took place in February 2005, when the Erie County Water Authority accidentally broke a pipe on the family's property. After the workers told the family they would not help them with fixing the pipe, which was several hundred feet from the couple's property.
After the family refused to fix the leak, they were handed a high water bill – $4,000 – and the authority shut off service to the home so the family went without water for five days.
While the exact amount given to the couple is unknown, it is thought to be under $100,000, according to the Buffalo News. Although the case is now a part of the past, the family is not satisfied. In fact, they are frustrated that the Water Authority never apologized.
"No amount of money makes it right," Steven M. Cohen of HoganWillig, the family's lawyer, told the Buffalo Times. "All they ever wanted was an apology, and they didn't get it."
The family is not alone when fighting to not pay for the cost of high water bills. A Las Vegas community recently challenged its district when homeowners began to receive water bills higher than they'd ever seen. The community's high bills were from a water reader device; however, and those affected will be compensated.
