Faulty readings lead to water overcharges in Warsaw

Commissioner calls out the need for an audit of town water bills.

WARSAW — A growing frustration among various Warsaw residents, now also echoed by Commissioner Ebony Willis-Wells, has highlighted a range of ongoing issues in the Town of Warsaw.

As the town continues to grow, it faces various challenges, including aging infrastructure, insufficient funding for necessary upgrades, and an urgent need for more personnel to address the community’s increasing demands.

Since new water rates were implemented last July, many residents have complained about unexpectedly high water bills. Individuals who previously paid around $65 a month are now reporting bills exceeding $100 — with some as high as $200.

At the October town hall meeting, the board addressed some of these concerns, including residents being mistakenly billed for 42 days in August. Officials explained the error was due to faults in the new meter reading system.

Willis-Wells stated in a social media post that an audit is necessary for all town water bills to determine if any residents were incorrectly assessed in June, July, and August.

“We have heard from so many citizens, and as a commissioner, I can acknowledge that our leadership doesn’t follow up or address town matters in a timely fashion or always in the best interest of the town,” wrote Willis-Wells. “We have leadership that is struggling to properly run and lead the town, but are suppose to be qualified and equipped to do the job.”

Willis-Wells expressed hope that the town board will continue to prioritize transparency and avoid concealing information or misleading the public.

“It’s our responsibility to own mistakes and make corrections. We as leaders need to be open to constructive criticism,”  said Willis-Wells.

Mayor A.J. Connors told Duplin Journal that getting the newly upgraded system up to speed is taking time. He also noted that some bills are over because some people do have water leaks and that the water department was evaluating things as they go.

For Cecil Lennon, a small business owner in Warsaw, this is not the first time he has dealt with problems in Warsaw due to inefficiencies and overcharges. Fortunately for Lennon, he has been able to get a few issues corrected after publicly presenting his complaints and evidence in front of the board at the town board meetings.

Lennon told Duplin Journal that after comparing the reading from a newly installed meter at one of his properties, he was baffled by the significant discrepancy between the meter reading and the bill he received for a supposed consumption of 8,870 gallons.

“I get a bill with a consumption of 8,870 gallons. That’s what they billed me for,” Lennon said. “I only used 125 gallons. They’re doing that to a lot of people in the area. They are overcharging if you don’t catch them like I caught them.”

Lennon expressed his frustration, questioning why the public had not been informed about the meter reading issues.

“If we don’t catch it, we will still be paying. Nobody could give me an explanation … except for the guy last night who stood up and said they’re getting the wrong meter readings at the office [compared to] what’s on hand, but the public doesn’t know, and everybody is getting water bills for like $150-$200. Warsaw just [brushed] it off.”

Update: According to Warsaw documents town employees reported the “AclaraONE system is not working like it should,” explaining that despite multiple attempts to reach the company they have been unsuccessful.