Fabens residents frustrated with strict water bill payment policy
Fabens residents who say they are fed up with their water bill policy delivered a letter protesting a policy that disconnects their water supply – without notice – if they fail to pay by the due date.
The letter was delivered to the El Paso County District Four office Thursday.
A resident told ABC-7 he paid his bill a day late and his water was set to get cut off. The resident paid his bill, but the county still went and disconnected his water service.
“I couldn’t pay the bill because it landed on a Sunday, but first thing in the morning, I showed up I paid my bill,” said Fabens resident Henry Garcia, “I had to pay the disconnection fee, reconnection fee and repay the deposit. You automatically lose it when you get cut off.”
A lawyer for Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid tells ABC-7 they reached out to the board two months ago, asking for a policy change.
The letter claims that the District’s practice of disconnection is widespread and counter to state efforts to provide safe drinking water and wastewater services to all. It asserts that the District’s disconnection policy violates state law and the federal constitution.
Drew Miller, the attorney representing the Fabens Water District, told ABC-7 that he knows there is a letter but hasn’t had a chance to look at it. He said it will take a couple of days to respond.
