The San Antonio Water System can now place liens on apartment complexes with overdue bills, a change intended to convince landlords to pay up and avoid water disconnections that affect their tenants.
The change comes in the wake of the utility’s controversial decision last summer to temporarily shut off water service at about 600 units in four complexes, which drew criticism from some city council members.
The council voted unanimously this week to give SAWS authority to impose liens on certain accounts, specifically those that are not designated as a homestead or rental properties where the service is connected in the tenant’s name, not the landlord’s…