Dear Friends,
Every year, thousands of New Yorkers see unexpected increases in their water bills. In some cases, it's the result of a leak. But it could also be a human or mechanical error.
Disputing unwarranted charges is an uphill battle. It takes more than having the facts on your side--and even some luck--to win. We've helped hundreds of New Yorkers through the process, and we've accumulated a lot of tips to save homeowners and businesses time and money.
To put those lessons to work for more New Yorkers, the Public Advocate's office teamed up with elected officials from across the city to produce a new guide to understanding your water bill.
> Download the Public Advocate's guide
Last month, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio held an oversight hearing to investigate unexplained increases in water bills that were reported to our office. The stories that we heard from New Yorkers were deeply troubling ( video here ). Water bills can result in a lien being placed on a homeowner's property and can threaten to shut-down small businesses.
If you have problems with your water bill, contact our hotline at 212.669.7250 or email us at gethelp@pubadvocate.nyc.gov . Filing a water bill dispute with the Department of Environmental Protection can be confusing and time-intensive - but we can help.
I encourage you to share the Public Advocate's Water Bill guide with your neighbors, co-op, or condo board. If you would like hard copies to distribute, just send us an email at gethelp@pubadvocate.nyc.gov .
Thanks,
Jeff S. Merritt
Senior Advisor
NYC Public Advocate Bill de Blasio