Tattle Tales
Volume 5, Number 6
An Open letter to The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and the Members of the Texas Legislature
WE, the undersigned residents and citizens of the State of Texas, petition our state leadership and elected representatives to urgently reform Texas water laws to protect our vital water resources, ensure long-term public supply, and address the unprecedented population growth which is causing our rates to increase to a non-realistic level. (This petition is presently being prepared.)
A woman just received a bill for $5,000, which is obscene, there is no advance warning of the increases or proper clarity, and the water company can disconnect her water after a 10-day written notice to disconnect. But what if she had been on vacation? Such a limited time is not reasonable to try to organize one's finances. This should be changed to a 30-day disconnect notice.
Under current Texas water laws - local communities are bearing the burden of sudden outrageous rate hikes. We think it is unconscionable for a water company to have such inordinate power.
The medical profession indicates that a person cannot live, especially in this hot, humid, climate, for more than three days without drinking water. Also, how does a customer flush the toilet?
We demand that a water company be unable to disconnect a residential household's water containing a chronically ill person, a disabled veteran, an elderly individual, or a low-income customer, because this would not only create a health hazard but could result in a life-and death situation because people cannot live without water.
When customers have called the water company to complain, they lie and say, "you must have a leak," when that is proven to be inaccurate, they lie again and say, "your meter must be malfunctioning."
There is a grass-roots campaign to STOP THE LEAK IN OUR WALLETS, and the Texas Public Utilities Commission, had better realize that it is inhumane to disconnect water.
After all, water companies have methods available to them to collect their money with liens, collection agencies, payment plans, etc., without placing a vulnerable customer's life in danger.
We must pass a law to prevent this abuse of power.
Water belongs to everyone, it is not a privilege, it is our right!
—Alinka Zyrmont