LeakBird

First, the city of Atlanta raised water rates 27.5 percent back in June.

Then, the Department of Watershed Management failed to add the rate hike to bills in a timely fashion.

And now, the city is back-billing to collect the money, listing it as “delinquent” on bills mailed in December, and shutting off water for many residents who were clueless they owed the money.

City officials are so far unwilling to admit any mistake has been made.

While back-billing is happening across the city, it has raised a stink in Buckhead, where residents are hammering the two council members —- Clair Muller and Howard Shook —- who represent the wealthy area north of downtown.

“I can’t go to a basketball game for my girls without hearing about it,” Shook said.

The rate increase was supposed to begin July 1. But that didn’t happen. The new rate was first applied to August bills, which would have been mailed in September.

So, bills mailed in December show an “adjustment” to make up for the amount the city failed to bill in July.

“We couldn’t just say we are not going to worry about that, legally,” said Janet Ward, spokeswoman for the Department of Watershed Management. “Our bond covenants require us to collect all that money.”

The amount on each bill varies based on use. Some residents who use little water might not even notice an extra $5.

But in areas like Buckhead, where huge estates can generate high summer bills, some residents are seeing overdue amounts beyond the $50 that automatically generates a cutoff notice. Others have complained about being cut off for amounts less than $10.

Lynn Irvin, who lives off West Paces Ferry Road, is incensed that the city turned off her water unjustly on Wednesday. Her bill due Dec. 28 showed it was adjusted upward for July by $91.41.

She called City Hall to get answers but was left frustrated and angry.

“Once their incompetency causes a problem, you can’t find a competent person to solve it,” Irvin said. “I got the most obnoxious person who lectured me about paying my bill on time. I pay my bills on time. I was furious.”

Ward said she did not know how many customers had water service stopped or why Atlanta failed to get the rate hike applied to the July bills. She added the department thinks all the recent bills and cutoffs were proper.

“We are investigating the situation,” Ward said.

Council members said they understood why the department went back to collect the money from July. However, they do not agree with the bills showing the amounts as being overdue.

“That would seem to me as a little bit unfair,” said Councilman Ceasar Mitchell.

Atlanta has had issues before over how it bills, collects and cuts off water service. City leaders complained eight years ago that the private contractor who ran the system allowed huge delinquent bills to accumulate without shutting off service.

Just last month, Mayor Shirley Franklin pledged to contact top delinquent accounts herself to seek payment.

The city recently took heat for allowing Morris Brown College and a downtown homeless shelter to run up huge delinquent bills before cutting water service off for both. The college and the shelter eventually sued the city to restore service.

The controversy has put added pressure on the department to ensure it acts quickly when bills are delinquent.

Shook said the controversy fuels discontent among Buckhead residents who often complain that they generate much of the city’s tax revenue but get poor service in return.