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Buckeye homeowners say they are drowning in high water bills

Posted at 9:27 PM, Nov 01, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-02 01:27:19-04

His yard is brown and he stopped filling his pool a month ago, but Chad Taylor says he’s being hosed.

"What the equivalent of what they said we used, would be would be like me dumping my 12,000 gallon pool three times in 30 days,” Taylor said.

Taylor’s bill is more than $750 dollars.

He says that pails in comparison to some people who are facing $1,000 to $2,000 dollar bills.

Taylor says that is having a ripple effect.

"All the meanwhile the elderly can't pay for medications, there's people that can't give the kids Christmas this year,” Taylor said.

Taylor explained that he’s checked for leaks, and looked at his water meter; nothing seems out of place.

He’s also in the same boat as a lot of other people.

“Where does 55,000 gallons of water go, I don't have a pool, and I don't have a fountain!”

About 75 people took their sky high water bill concerns to the Buckeye City Council, Tuesday evening.

The Buckeye City manager tried to reason with homeowners.

"We will go to their account information, we will do what is necessary to get to the source of these high water usage situations,” said Roger Klingler, Buckeye City Manager.

Some say the water worries are getting worse, with the city threatening to cut of water for unpaid bills.

The city has set up a hotline to help take complaints and figure out what is going on.

That number is 623-349-6900 or people can email waterhotline@buckeyeaz.gov

Fed up water payers says, their complains are getting nowhere with the city and they are preparing legal action.

They are asking everyone who has a high water bill, or would like to show support, to attend a public class action lawsuit meeting, Saturday November 5 at the Buckeye Aquatic Center at 207 N 9th Street starting at 2:00 p.m.