For three hours, an angry crowd of DeKalb residents pressed county leaders to do something about absurd water bills that at times exceed $1,000.

They demanded answers and complained about extreme bills during a tense town meeting Thursday night.

Residents said they couldn't understand how their government could charge them so much for a basic necessity, and then fail to provide adequate explanations when residents called a customer service line.

DeKalb commissioners and government employees apologized and pledged to improve, but many homeowners said they lack confidence that the problem will be solved.

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Ja'Quon Stembridge — pictured speaking at the monthly Henry County Republican Party meeting in July — was elected over the summer as the assistant secretary of the Georgia GOP. (Jenni Girtman for the AJC 2025)

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Inventor Lonnie Johnson stands with his Super Soaker water guns at JTEC Energy on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, in Atlanta. Johnson, a former NASA engineer, is currently working on a new energy technology through his company’s JTEC device that turns thermal heat into usable energy. (Natrice Miller/AJC)