A Phoenix homeowner says he was left facing a staggering $2,777 water bill after a city-owned water meter transmitter failed to report his household’s water usage for approximately seven months. During that time, an underground leak continued unnoticed, allowing hundreds of thousands of gallons of water to escape before the problem was finally discovered. The incident has sparked questions about the City of Phoenix’s billing system, the reliability of its meter equipment, and whether homeowners should be held financially responsible when city-owned devices malfunction.
Homeowner Says the Massive Bill Came as a Complete Shock
Phoenix resident Cameron Green said he was stunned when he opened his monthly water bill and discovered a balance totaling $2,777. According to Green, the amount was unlike anything he had ever received before.
He recalled feeling physically sick after seeing the bill, saying his immediate reaction was disbelief because he could not imagine his household consuming that much water.
Bill Covered Seven Months of Water Usage
City records showed that Green and his wife had allegedly used approximately 344,000 gallons of water over a seven-month period.
Green questioned the figure, explaining that their home is relatively modest. He said the property has only one bathroom, they rarely use the bathtub, and they do not own a swimming pool or a hot tub that would normally account for unusually high water consumption.
City Says a Faulty Transmitter Prevented Monthly Billing
After receiving the unexpected bill, Green contacted the City of Phoenix to determine why the charges had accumulated…