Some Norcross Residents Unhappy With New Water Bills

Norcross homeowners recently began receiving their Gwinnett County water bills in their mailboxes and a few were taken aback by the increase in the amount charged for water and sewer service.

"Wow..is it just me or did the water bill (recently switched to the county for billing)  just skyrocket? Anyone have a reason?" wrote Effie Mae Nash in the Opinion section of Patch recently. "I just looked at the last city of Norcross bill and my average rate went up by $10 for water used and $35 for sewer!"

Earlier when the city began exploring the idea of selling its water service to the county Gwinnett County Water Resources Director Ron Seibenhener said that the average Norcross resident should expect to "see around a 10 percent increase in rates."

Through an intergovernmental agreement, Gwinnett County purchased the City of Norcross' water and wastewater systems for $2 million. It was a good decision said Mayor Bucky Johnson. "We spent $1.5 million annually on upgrades," he said. 

When the county took over, it changed out all of the old meters and some of those old meters may have not been functioning properly which may be the cause of some of the increase residents are seeing said the mayor. 

The conversion affected nearly 2,200 Norcross customers, over 5,000 customers were already being billed for water and sewer service by the county. Norcross residents who were 62 and older also received a senior discount, the county does not offer discounts. 

"I am very disappointed that the city made this switch," said Nash... looks like my bill has doubled!! I have no leaks and am very upset with the city council and mayor who let this happen to the citizens of Norcross who voted them in."