FOX 5's Morse Diggs discovered more than 40,000 customers are at least 90 days behind in paying their bills.
Mike Geisler is the new finance person at the Department of Watershed Management. He said that the unpaid bills are a result of customers falling on hard times at the same time the city hiked up rates.
Atlanta has the highest water rates in the nation, and there have been increases each year since 2004 except for 2005, Diggs reports.
Geisler said that a third of the delinquent accounts are inactive.
"We are sort of in a monopolistic situation here, where withdrawing water from customers is a bit more difficult than, say, not giving someone an oil change," said Geisler.
Geisler promised to be more aggressive in collecting unpaid bills. He said an outside agency has been hired and will begin collections in early 2013.
Delinquent customers have the chance to use payment plans, where they can pay a portion of the debt until they are caught up.
Thursday, May 23 2013 2:17 PM EDT2013-05-23 18:17:55 GMT
The state rested its case on Thursday in the trial of Michael Parson. He's accused of shooting his wife eight times in April 2011 outside their Sandy Springs apartment.
The state rested its case on Thursday in the trial of Michael Parson. He's accused of shooting his wife eight times in April 2011 outside their Sandy Springs apartment.
Thursday, May 23 2013 1:55 PM EDT2013-05-23 17:55:29 GMT
Police in Palmetto say they're investigating the abduction of a 13-year-old boy.
Police in Palmetto say they're investigating the abduction of a 13-year-old boy. They say he was approached by a man as he got off his school bus on Wednesday, and that man pulled him into a pickup truck. He was able to escape, but the suspect is still on the loose.
Thursday, May 23 2013 1:33 PM EDT2013-05-23 17:33:35 GMT
The wives of first responders in Atlanta took to the picket line on Thursday morning to demand a salary hike for city workers.
The wives and family members of first responders in Atlanta took to the picket line on Thursday morning to demand a salary hike for city workers. They say their loved ones are forced to work extra jobs just to make ends meet, leaving little time for family.
Thursday, May 23 2013 1:06 PM EDT2013-05-23 17:06:09 GMT
The fox responsible for biting two Newton County elementary school students while they played on their school's playground remains on the loose.
The fox that bit two Newton County elementary school students while they played on the playground is still on the loose. Animal control authorities tell FOX 5 someone from Rocky Plains Elementary School reported a fox sighting on campus one day before the boys were attacked.
