Elderly Midland Woman Pressed With $400 Water Bill
By: Jenne Anderson
Updated: February 5, 2013
MIDLAND-- 92 year-old Mildred Saye is in a tough spot with the city of Midland.
"My bill was $377.93," said Saye.
That's a lot when you compare it to Saye's previous water bills, which average around $40 each month.
"I did not have an RO system," explained Saye. "I had not used my sprinkler in years; I did not use the dish and wash dryers."
Tony Goyang is the Midland Customer Service Manager.
He's been keeping tabs on Saye's situation and tells us there are several possibilities that could be causing the problem.
"She had talked to one of my technicians," stated Goyang. "And they're looking into the situation right now to see what could have happened. She may have a leak."
But Saye says a leak has already been ruled out.
"My plumber says there's no leakage in my house," explained Saye. "And so I don't know what in the world I can do."
If forced to pay the bill, Saye tells us it will completely deplete her fixed income.
"I'll just do without some of my medicine and stop eating!" exclaimed Saye, showing she'll do whatever it takes to make this problem go away.
Goyang says before he changes anything, he needs to make sure the cause of the high bill is fixed.
He has good reason to worry about that.
He says he's already looking at her next water bill, and it's going to be just as high.
That's why he thinks there has to be some kind of problem.
It'll take a month or two to make sure the water rates are where they should be, but Goyang assures Big2 that Saye won't be forced to pay these high prices.
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"My bill was $377.93," said Saye.
That's a lot when you compare it to Saye's previous water bills, which average around $40 each month.
"I did not have an RO system," explained Saye. "I had not used my sprinkler in years; I did not use the dish and wash dryers."
Tony Goyang is the Midland Customer Service Manager.
He's been keeping tabs on Saye's situation and tells us there are several possibilities that could be causing the problem.
"She had talked to one of my technicians," stated Goyang. "And they're looking into the situation right now to see what could have happened. She may have a leak."
But Saye says a leak has already been ruled out.
"My plumber says there's no leakage in my house," explained Saye. "And so I don't know what in the world I can do."
If forced to pay the bill, Saye tells us it will completely deplete her fixed income.
"I'll just do without some of my medicine and stop eating!" exclaimed Saye, showing she'll do whatever it takes to make this problem go away.
Goyang says before he changes anything, he needs to make sure the cause of the high bill is fixed.
He has good reason to worry about that.
He says he's already looking at her next water bill, and it's going to be just as high.
That's why he thinks there has to be some kind of problem.
It'll take a month or two to make sure the water rates are where they should be, but Goyang assures Big2 that Saye won't be forced to pay these high prices.
Like Jenne Anderson's page on Facebook!
