High water bills leave residents befuddled

HOUSTON – Sky-high water bills are shocking some local families.

Gloria Trotscher, 90, and her husband use little water in their Spring Branch home.

But when their usage went from 14,000 gallons a month to 121,000 gallons at a cost of $2,393.83, she knew there was a problem.

"I just can't believe it. I can't believe that they would think, that two elderly people would use that much water in one month," Trotscher said.

One-hundred twenty-one thousand gallons of water is enough to fill up an average backyard swimming pool more than four times.

But Trotscher does not have a pool.

She said she had her water lines checked, and did not have a broken water line.

She said she called the city of Houston and got no answers.

"I called them right away. And every answer that I got back from my questions was, 'Well that's what the meter said,'" Trotscher said.

A spokesman for the City of Houston Public Works and Engineering Department said that the Trotschers previously requested their water bill information be kept confidential.

He confirmed that the city is working with the couple. He said help is available through the City of Houston through its leak adjustment, unusually large bill adjustment or its exceptional circumstances provisions. He said anyone with a problem can contact the city’s 311 line or call customer service. You can also visit their site online.

Pat Brown is a new resident in rural Montgomery County.

She said her water bill shot up from 3,000 to 43,000 gallons a month.

"I've been here four months and they've gone from under $50 to $239," Brown said.

She said she had not gotten anywhere with her utility company, Quadvest.

A manager called and told KPRC 2 that the water bill is about right for the one acre, irrigated lot.

He confirmed Brown is a new resident who is just now getting her first full water bill.

He said the previous resident used about 37,000 gallons a month. On Thursday afternoon, he sent a worker to check the water use.

He said the current use was about the same as was reflected in the last bill.

Brown said that the bill was too much.

"It's just a lot of money to be out every month. My water bill's more than my electric bill," Brown said.

The Quadvest manager also confirmed that Brown had talked with customer service representatives twice previously.