Shocking Water Bill Leaves San Antonio Family Reeling After $9,707 Charge

Shocking Water Bill Leaves San Antonio Family Reeling

SAN ANTONIO — It’s a typical day when *Seth Priestner*, a resident of northwest San Antonio, receives a bill that makes his jaw drop. Having just moved into his new home in April, his family’s water bill was a manageable $115, a figure they expected to see for the foreseeable future. But that all changed in August when they were confronted with an astounding bill totaling **$9,707** for the month. The bill claimed they had consumed a staggering **355,000 gallons** of water—enough to fill half an Olympic swimming pool.

A Confusing Call

“At first, we thought they sent us the **wrong bill**. Like maybe they sent us a commercial bill,” Priestner recounted, still stunned. However, after contacting the water utility, *San Antonio Water System (SAWS)*, the family was informed that indeed, the bill was accurate, and they might have a leak.

With urgency, Seth called a plumber to inspect their home for any leaks, but the plumber found nothing. In June, the family had already fixed a leak that had surfaced, leaving them puzzled about the recent surge in water usage. Determined to resolve the issue, Priestner reached out to SAWS once again, requesting a reduction of the bill, especially since they had been proactive about fixing leaks on their end.

A Partial Victory

To his relief, SAWS agreed to reduce the bill to about **$6,500** but still slapped on a hefty **$3,500** “Stage 3 Drought Surcharge.” This fee, designed to discourage excessive water usage, deeply troubled Priestner. “I don’t think that’s the case here,” he commented. “It doesn’t make sense to fine someone for what could be an error.”

Unraveling the Mystery

The big question remained: how on earth did SAWS come up with such an outrageous figure? The answer was revealed when a SAWS spokeswoman, *Anne Hayden*, explained to the family that they hadn’t physically checked the water meter for both June and July. Instead, their water usage was *estimated*, creating a mismatch between what was billed and actual consumption.

“Because there were two estimated reads, we couldn’t be sure when that water use was happening in those two months, so we did give him a partial credit,” stated Hayden. Their findings raised further questions, especially regarding the **drought surcharge**. Thankfully, when the incident garnered attention, SAWS decided to remove the surcharge altogether, realizing it should have been addressed during the earlier billing adjustment. “We decided, just to be careful, to give him credit back on the surcharge,” Hayden clarified.

Upgrading Technology

In a proactive stride towards better customer service, SAWS swiftly replaced Priestner’s older water meter with a brand-new “SAWS ConnectH2O” meter. This smart meter allows both the utility and the homeowner to monitor water usage electronically, providing hourly insights and aiding in quick leak detection. Hayden proudly demonstrated how easy it is to use, showing off the accompanying app designed for real-time monitoring.

With the new meter in place, the family was quickly alerted to another critical issue when they unknowingly left a hose running in September—thanks to the continuous leak alert system. “This is going to be a wonderful thing to use, and we are looking forward to all our customers having access to it,” Hayden remarked enthusiastically.

A Grateful Conclusion

Reflecting on this rollercoaster experience, Priestner expressed gratitude for SAWS finally dropping the fine. “I have a hard time believing I would have gotten the same results had I not sought assistance,” he admitted. So, if you find yourself in similar water-related woes, remember that reaching out for help can make a world of difference!

For everyone out there experiencing issues like this, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. There are systems in place designed to assist and resolve your concerns!