A Houston homeowner says her monthly water bills have reached $150 due to what appears to be an improper water meter connection that may be charging her for her neighbor’s water usage as well.
Ivy Chen has been manually turning her water on and off for basic needs like showering. This comes after her City of Houston water bills show she’s using approximately 6,000 gallons of water monthly—enough to fill a swimming pool, according to Chen.
“It has been bothering me for two years,” Chen said, explaining her frustration with the situation.
Attorney Katie Ann Figueroa, who represents Chen, identified what she believes is the source of the problem: a construction error in the water line connection. The issue stems from a Y-pipe installation that was incorrectly placed after Chen’s meter, resulting in both side-by-side townhomes drawing water through a single meter.
“This is a really common occurrence with new homes, especially lately with these townhomes that they’re building everywhere they’re gentrifying,” Figueroa explained. She noted that each house should have its own separate meter connection.
According to Figueroa, Texas law provides homeowners with legal recourse in such situations. “Under Texas law, when you buy a new residence, there are two statutes that you can sue under for damages. The first one is the Residential Construction Liability Act, and that applies to all new homes,” she said.
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Figueroa says she has initiated contact with the builder through a demand letter. The builder’s legal team has responded, stating that the current demand letter lacks sufficient detail. They indicated a willingness to investigate the issue once proper documentation is provided to determine whether responsibility lies with the builder or the City of Houston.
Houston residents who suspect irregularities in their water bills can track their daily usage through an online system.
For more information on how to monitor water consumption, look at this article by Amy Davis.
