HOUSTON — A north Houston lady mentioned she has been locked in a forwards and backwards with the City of Houston for weeks a few water leak at her residence that she mentioned is not her fault.
Anita Harrison mentioned the leak was brought on by a rubbish truck and it by no means bought mounted.
Instead, Harrison, 71, was despatched a water bill of greater than $900 final month. The city additionally reduce off her water.
Harrison mentioned she advised city officers what occurred however she claims they didn’t imagine her and advised her she could be accountable, however surveillance video may make them suppose in any other case.
Harrison moved out of her home after the city reduce off her water on Friday.
Since she will be able to’t take a bathe, use her lavatory, wash her dishes or do a variety of different issues, she left. She’s additionally dealing with the belief that she’s not in the very best of well being.
Despite repeated calls and requests she has made with the city, nothing has helped.
“My water meter still not working, still broke,” she mentioned. “Still don’t have any water.”
For greater than a month, Harrison mentioned she’s spent numerous hours attempting to navigate the city’s paperwork, time spent being shuffled amongst its numerous departments.
“This is how the city is, you know, they don’t take care of their elderly,” Harrison mentioned.
Harrison’s final water bill earlier than the incident with the rubbish truck was a little bit greater than $35. After the harm was finished to the meter, it was greater than $900.
“It’s well over a grand and something now,” Harrison mentioned.
Harrison mentioned she had a tricky time convincing anybody that her water meter was damaged though she advised them she wasn’t answerable for the harm. She mentioned the city advised her to contact Waste Management as a result of it was their truck, however in keeping with the video, the City of Houston crest seems to be on the facet of the truck.
“They were just going to keep ignoring it if I hadn’t brought those pictures around,” Harrison mentioned.
Luckily, her neighbor’s surveillance digital camera exhibits what occurred that day in the midst of January. In the video, you possibly can see the rubbish truck because it pops up in her yard. The tire of the truck pauses on prime of the water meter field.
On Tuesday, a Houston Public Works spokesperson mentioned the city is wanting into the problem and so they undoubtedly need to get her water service restored as quickly as doable. The spokesperson mentioned they hope to be taught extra in regards to the repairs to the meter on Wednesday.
For Annette Harrison and her household, that may’t come quickly sufficient.
Matt Dougherty on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
story by Source link