Thurmond: 'No Surprises' For DeKalb Water Customers

DECATUR, GA — DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond on Wednesday announced a new phase in the effort to crack down on costly, and often inaccurate, water bills in the county.

Thurmond announced what he's calling Phase II in the effort to restore public trust and confidence in the county's water billing system. The county will be focusing on strengthening management and oversight, streamlining the department, installing a state-of-the-art billing system and replacing aging water meters.

'There will be no surprises for DeKalb water bill customers," Thurmond said in a news release. “Prior to any final decisions about unpaid portions of previously held bills, I will present a plan of action to a public meeting of the Board of Commissioners."

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A water bill advisory group has been working since last year to address what Thurmond calls a crisis. Since at least 2016, residents across DeKalb County have been complaining about receiving bills that were surprisingly high and, in many cases, did not represent their actual water use.

Billing for as many as 37,000 customers has been withheld since last year as the county worked to sort out the problems. Thurmond said Wednesday that a final batch of those bills has now been released.

Last year, Thurmond, who took office after being elected in 2016, launched an effort to clear up the county's water billing process. It identified problems that had led to inaccurate billing and meter readings and what Thurmond calls "a systemic failure of leadership, management and oversight."

Customers whose bill have been withheld will not be penalized for county errors, he said. Anyone seeking more information may call 404-378- 4475.

Photo courtesy DeKalb County government