Kansas City woman believes broken pipe is causing high water bills
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Kansas City woman believes a possible broken pipe in her neighborhood has led to high water bills at her home for years.
However, KC Water says if a customer's water meter is not directly connected to infrastructure, their water usage measurements won't be impacted.
Janice Meade has lived at her home near E. 57th Street and Jackson Avenue for more than 31 years. She says the Kansas City Water Department has been overcharging her for the last five years.
"My house is not big at all," she said. "Everything is on one floor."
Meade says over the last five years, she's been faced with an abnormally high water bill, paying anywhere from $160 to $200 a month.
She and her son share one bathroom in the one story home and she's out of the house often, working six days a week.
Meade says according to KC Water, they used nearly 4,500 gallons of water last month and 6,000 gallons the month before that. She doesn't believe it.
"When I can't even wash in my house, that don't even make any sense," Meade said. "Everything is fixed. Nothing is leaking. That's not accurate. I don't have a swimming pool. I done and got everything that they have asked me to fix done."
In April, Meade fixed a busted pipe in her front yard, but the bill was still high. She says she called a professional last month who told her they couldn't find any leaks.
On Jackson Avenue, FOX4 saw water streaming out of the street outside her home. Meade believes that is causing water meter numbers and the water bill to climb.
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However, KC Water said in a statement to FOX4.
"Infrastructure that is not directly connected to a customer's water meter has no impact on water usage measurements. The water meter is the only device that records consumption at the property, ensuring that only usage directly connected to the meter is measured in the customer's readings."
Still, Meade believes she's paying for water she's not using.
"For them to give me my money back. For everything, to reimburse me that I haven't been using, to give me my money back," she said.
KC Water said it can't comment on individual customer accounts but they're working with Meade to address her concern.
