Atlanta councilmembers demand action after audit reveals more than $236M in unpaid water bills

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management (DWM) is facing hundreds of millions of dollars in debt, with nearly a quarter of all active accounts in delinquent status, according to an audit released Wednesday.

The audit revealed that overdue water and sewer bills tied to DWM customers have reached more than $236 million in 2026, an increase of approximately $39 million over the past three years. An initial audit conducted in June 2023 reported $197.8 million in past-due balances.

The scope of the audit includes residential, commercial and government properties, though auditors noted that some government and business properties are classified as “residential.” About $8 million of the total delinquent balance involves accounts that are 30 days or fewer behind…

Story continues

TRENDING NOW

LATEST LOCAL NEWS