A Lehigh County woman is fighting for her water to be turned back on. She said her landlord is to blame for the whole mess.
The borough of Slatington shut the family's water off on Tuesday. The bill is nearly $800. The dispute is with their landlord.
"Nothing. It's been like that for days," Linda Mayer said.
Boiling hot water is how Mayer washes her dishes, while pouring spring water into the toilet tank is how she uses the bathroom.
"I have to take three gallons to fill the tank up," she said.
Dozens of empty water bottles have piled up on her property since Tuesday because charges of service have not been paid, which was stated on a pink piece of paper by the borough.
"It's not our responsibility. It's the landlord's responsibility to pay the water bill," she said.
Mayer said she stopped paying rent, which included her water fee, when she found out the property was in foreclosure and the owner, Patrick Jules, had a bank bill of more than $135,000. Mayer showed 69 News the legal documents that state so.
"The township turned it off, and the tenants are not paying their rent. I'm not sure what to tell you at this point," Jules said.
Attorney Bob Magee deals with tenant/landlord disputes.
"They don't know what their rights are," Magee said.
In cases where the landlord is delinquent, Magee said the tenant has the right to deal directly with the utility.
"Only have to pay the utility bill for the past 30 days, and if they do, it will be reinstated. They are allowed to deduct that from the rent that would otherwise be paid for to the landlord," Magee explained.
Mayer will move out soon but said she will pony up the money for water if the landlord doesn't.
"It's too much and they don't care they have water. They can take showers. They don't care about us," Mayer tearfully said.
Magee said, with any dispute, it's always best to know your rights.
The property is set to be sold at sheriffs sale at the end of February.
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