For a family of five living in a standard suburban home, using a few thousand gallons of water a month is typical. But according to data recorded by Illinois American Water and South Beloit’s waste water department, Dar and Kris Otten of South Beloit managed to use one billion gallons in a single month and zero the next.
Now, after months of erratic billing spikes, technician visits, and official insistence that nothing is wrong, the Ottens are fighting back. Believing they are not alone in their struggle with the utility giant, the couple is taking steps toward establishing a class-action lawsuit against Illinois American Water over its billing practices and digital meter readings.
“Leaks don’t just fix themselves,” Kris Otten said. “Our bill returning to normal for an entire year, then suddenly having another leak one month just to have it return to normal… it makes no sense. The facts remain: there’s no leak, money is being stolen from us, and they’re doing it to others, too.”
An Impossible Paper Trail
The Ottens’ trouble began in February 2025 when Illinois American Water replaced their traditional water meter with a new digital reader. Prior to the installation, the family paid a questionable 18,400-gallon bill in November 2024, choosing to pay it and move on…