Atlanta

27,000 Atlantans could get their water cut off in the new year

By Ashli Lincoln, WSB-TV
By Ashli Lincoln, WSB-TV

ATLANTA — Some Atlantans have just three weeks to get their Atlanta Watershed Management accounts in good standing or risk getting their water shut off.

The City of Atlanta has announced it is cutting off water for 27,000 delinquent accounts.

Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Ashli Lincoln learned that if customers don’t pay by January 2, they won’t see any water running out of their faucets. Those affected are more than 30 days late on their payments and have more than $300 left to pay on their bills.

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Glenda Geaton told Lincoln her bill is four digits long, and she doesn’t have the money to pay for it.

“This notice here is saying, ‘Pay up,” she said.

She says that she has spent the last three months going back and forth with the City of Atlanta’s Watershed Department to figure out why her bill is $8,308.

“Where is the leak?,” Geaton said.

Atlanta Watershed told Lincoln they are dealing with $121 million in uncollected water charges.

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A spokesperson said the city paused water shutoffs for residential and commercial customers at the start of the pandemic. Single family customers have also not faced shutoffs since 2010.

The city says its temporary COVID-19 payment assistance program is set to expire at the end of the year.

Geaton says she is stocking up on water in case her water is cut off.

“I have to order water to cook with, to use to flush the toilets and all, and to bathe with,” she said.

The city told Lincoln they want to help people with their accounts and some will be

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