News
News

Water billing crisis in DeKalb will take years to fix

Hundreds of DeKalb County residents filled the Maloof Auditorium to a standing room only capacity on Oct. 6, seeking answers to high water bills. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM
Hundreds of DeKalb County residents filled the Maloof Auditorium to a standing room only capacity on Oct. 6, seeking answers to high water bills. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM
By Mark Niesse
April 28, 2017

The crisis of inaccurate and expensive water bills in DeKalb County is far from over.

While thousands of people are fighting their bills, it will take about three more years and tens of millions of dollars to correct the underlying problem.

The government plans to replace most of DeKalb’s 190,000 water meters, install new billing software, change out pipes, hire customer service representatives and more.

Meanwhile, residents say they're frustrated with the pace of fixing an issue that costs them time and money.

Please read the full story on MyAJC.com.

They hope they are getting closer to getting answers about high water bills.

About the Author

Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.

Follow Mark Niesse on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Blue heron are just one of the hundreds of kinds of animals and plants that call the Okefenokee Swamp home. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Is the Okefenokee World Heritage material? Scientists are trying to find out.

International scientists visited the Okefenokee Swamp to help determine whether the refuge inside it belongs on the prestigious World Heritage List.

Ex-PSC candidate took notebook of Georgia Power trade secrets, police say

A warrant alleges former Public Service Commission candidate Patty Durand placed a booklet of Georgia Power trade secret information into her purse and left a hearing room.

Where can I find it?

AJC readers are looking for help finding actual toothpaste (not gel) and Mayfield cottage cheese.

The Latest

Blue heron are just one of the hundreds of kinds of animals and plants that call the Okefenokee Swamp home. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Is the Okefenokee World Heritage material? Scientists are trying to find out.

A.M. ATL: Red light on green

Ex-PSC candidate took notebook of Georgia Power trade secrets, police say

Featured

(Photo Illustration: Philip Robibero | Sources: Hyosub Shin for AJC, Unsplash)

Credit: Philip Robibero / AJC

THE FUTURE OF MARTA

Riding the color line: How race built Atlanta’s MARTA system

MARTA’s routes, reach and reputation were defined as much by race as by ridership, leaving a legacy of inequity that still shapes how Atlantans move — or don’t move.

Rivian layoffs to hit hundreds, but Georgia impacts expected to be small

The company is looking to reduce costs as it prepares to start production of its R2 crossover, which Rivian has said will eventually be built at its planned Georgia plant.

Bert Weiss shares his 6 favorite ‘Bert Show’ moments: Six Flags, Mariah Carey

Bert Weiss revisited some of the big moments in the early days of "The Bert Show" including incidents with Usher, Mariah Carey and Six Flags Over Georgia.