MAUMELLE, Ark. (KTHV) -- 11 Listens is continuing to get answers after residents in Maumelle say they're still having issues with high water bills.
Viewers tell THV11 they've had problems ever since Central Arkansas Water recently took over Maumelle Water Management. Last month, we started getting calls about the cost of water in Maumelle.
People say their water bills have doubled, and in some cases, tripled. But why? Well, Central Arkansas Water still isn't exactly sure.
After Central Arkansas Water took over Maumelle Water Management on March 1, a $25 monthly charge was added on to each customer's water bill.
That fee, CAW said, was to pay for the company's consolidation and to pay off Maumelle Waters' old debt. That charge, Judy Gregory says, she was prepared for.
"I expected to maybe even go to $80 but not $111."
The issue, Gregory says, isn't that fee. It's the "water usage".
"8,440 gallons for one person. I must be the cleanest person in town."
With each gallon of water used, you not only have to pay for that water, but also a wastewater fee. Those fees are adding up for many Maumelle residents.
Gregory is disabled and on a fixed income.
"It used to be like $60. Now it's like $100? $111, $98, $111."
At first, Gregory thought she had a leak, so she replaced two of her toilets, but there was still no change.
CAW told THV11 that they're looking into the matter, and think the issue may be that the meter readers for Maumelle weren't accurately reading meters, but were just estimating every month. They say, they think, the new price reflects how much water is actually being used.
Gregory thinks it's just the opposite.
"I noticed the other day, the meter man reading my meter and he was standing up, looking down at it, and I thought, there's no way."
THV11 reached out to CAW for an official comment about their investigation into the water cost hike. They say their customer service team is looking in to Gregory's account to see how much water she was using before the takeover. The company didn't want to make a comment until they had more information about Gregory's case.