After receiving a astounding$ 22, 828.71 water costs from the state’s Department of Environmental Protection ( DEP), the 86-year-old lady insisted that the amount is completely false.
Margaret McGowan, who has lived in her modest Tudor-style home in Flushing for 50 years, claims she has never paid more than$ 85 per month for water. However, after the DEP turned off her water meter for repairs and left it off for two years, they back-charged her for that time, charging her an astronomical$ 850 ( £670 ) per month. If appropriate, the bill would indicate that McGowan had used the same amount of water as ten swimming pools each month, according to her supporters, which she denies.
” It was a shock to me to find the costs that great… plus interest has accumulated,” said McGowan, who was joined by her two sons, according to the New York Post.
The DEP has now rejected two appeals against McGowan, a lady who raised her kids as a second mother, and is now pursuing a last appeal with the Water Board. She runs the risk of having her household repossessed if she doesn’t.
McGowan and express legislator John Liu demanded that the DEP acknowledge its error and pay the debt, respectively.
” DEP not only needs to cancel this ridiculous$ 22,000 bill. According to lawmaker Liu, who fears that other people may be facing the same hardships, they need to issue an apology to Mrs. McGowan.
The problem started in January 2022 when the DEP found a problem with McGowan’s liquid meter. The company froze her bill while fixing the issue, rather than billing her. However, when they finally reinstated her support in January 2024, they sent a refunded bill that shocked McGowan.
The DEP has refused to back down despite numerous appeals, arguing that the huge expenses could be the result of an unidentified leak at McGowan’s house. However, politicians deemed the notion absurd.
” That would be ten floating lakes, and their suggestion that there was some sort of leak. Was you determine if there were 10 swimming pools of water leaking every month?” said Braunstein, a part of the assembly.
” The entire area may be aware. That undoubtedly didn’t occur.
Even worse, McGowan’s banks has advised her to pay the bill to prevent motion against her residence, which Senator Liu described as “outrageous.”
This poses a major threat to Mrs. McGowan’s long-standing possession of her own house. Dep is now threatening Mrs. McGowan with the loss of her long-time home, which is utterly absurd and unacceptable,” Liu said.
” I simply don’t comprehend what’s happening. She said,” I really need assistance.”
A DEP director responded to the Post by saying,”…
” The sensor itself has no issues, and the high costs is based on property-related higher consumption.” The NYC Water Board has received an appeal regarding this matter, but we are considering what can be done to help this customer.
McGowan is currently working with an accounting body to challenge the act, who does not currently have legal picture.
