What was your last water bill? Did you feel like it was a bit too high? Imagine if it was ten times that amount.
That's what the Hopkins villagers are claiming their water bill looks like. They're saying that since meters were installed two years ago, they've been paying exorbitant fees because the meters are displaying an incorrect figure, adding a zero to the back.
The residents have complained to the water board, the chairman, and the area rep, but to no avail. So today, a group of them came to the media, and we spoke to them via Zoom.
Russel Nunez, Hopkins Resident
"What seems to be the problem now, as we see it, is that the people working for the water board are not reading the meters correctly or accurately. And as a result, they make it appear that the people are using or consuming 10 times the actual usage, and they are being billed for that amount of water use."
"And that is where the problem is, and the people are now up in arms because they are being charged an exorbitant amount of money for water use, and the water board seems not to care. They're not even showing any indication they want to resolve this issue."
Hilton Rodriguez, Hopkins Resident
"There is a zero at the end, which may look as if, though it's a part of the reading, but it is there, and it doesn't move. So which means that whenever you use one gallon of water, the meter, it would seem as if though you are using 10 gallons of water, which means that the previous and the present reading will come up with a zero at the end."
"Is it a coincidence that all the bills will end with that zero? And that was the reason we came up with the fact that the meters are not read properly. I have seen bills where it reaches up to a hundred and something dollars, and when you calculate it based on the rates that they give you, you might end up with just a $14 and so. So which means we concluded that the meters are not read properly."
Reporter
"Ms. Castillo, how much did you pay last month for your water bill?"
Christina Castillo, Hopkins Resident
"Oh ma'am, if I tell you that I had a bill of over $2,000 you wouldn't believe me."
Reporter
"And how many people live in your home?"
Christina Castillo, Hopkins Resident
"One, two, three, five adults and two kids. That was taken care of. They said that's okay. And the next bill came up. It was over $400. Now, when I calculated the $437 bill, taking out that zero, it should only be $94."
And tomorrow the CEO in the Ministry of Rural Development along with his team will be heading there to meet with them. Valentino Shal told us, quote, "Our staff will be going to verify the situation with the Hopkins Water Board as the local authority. Until that review is done then we will know the scope of the issue being raised and how it may be resolved." End quote. We will continue to follow this story.
