In Detroit, an 82-year-old's water bill jumped from $250 to $32,000, then crews swapped the meter

An 82-year-old Detroit woman who usually owes between $60 to $250 for water every few months was alarmed after seeing a charge of $32,000.

The dispute eventually led to a meter replacement at her house, but the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department said the underlying problem may affect more than just one customer.

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As WDIV Local 4 reported, the billing surge at Larnese Davis' west-side Detroit home unfolded over time. 

After Davis had lived there for 15 years, her daughter, Tiffany Damerond, told the outlet that a bill for over $1,800 this past spring was followed by charges of $16,000 and then $32,000. 

According to Damerond, the bill arrives every few months and is usually between $250 and $260. Following the first bill of $1,800, she said both the water department workers and a plumber checked the home and found no leak. 

However, after the $16,000 bill arrived, Davis feared the utility would shut off her water. Damerond explained to WDIV, "She knows I can't pay that bill, she can't pay that bill. She was totally stressed out. She kept on calling and said 'What are we going to do about this water bill?' They are going to shut my water off."

After the $32,000 bill arrived, Damerond turned to Local 4 for help. After the local reporter reached out to the water department, Damerond finally received a call stating the meter would be switched.

Sam Smalley, deputy director for the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, told the outlet the issue stemmed from a vendor-certified meter package that didn't comply with the department's existing technology. Smalley said, "In this instance, a vendor, who had certified that their package, the meter, was compliant with our existing technology had not done the things necessary to be compliant."

Smalley added that the department has roughly 1,000 of the same meters in storage, and at least six others are already installed. Smalley also said the city is now trying to prevent similar issues elsewhere in Detroit by proactively reaching out to potentially impacted customers. He added that residents with suspicious charges should contact the department directly so it can review their accounts.

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