Bill Allows BCWA to Continue Charging Tenants for Water Use

Four local state representatives have introduced a bill into the General Assembly that would stop the Bristol County Water Authority from charging landlords for the water their tenants use.

The legislation, introduced by Joy Hearn and Jan Malik, who represent Barrington, and Ray Gallison and Kenneth Marshall, who represent Bristol, actually would stop the BCWA from following the state law that says landlords must be charged directly for their tenants’ water use, according to a story at eastbayri.com.

BCWA officials have been disregarding that section of the state law forever. They chose instead to let tenants open accounts to be billed directly.

The BCWA has decided to follow the law to save up to $40,000 a year, according to the story on eastbayri.com. That’s the total of uncollectible water bills each year under the BCWA's current billing system. 

Going after the landlords also would free up time spent trying to chase down delinquent tenants, according to Pamela Marchand, executive director of the BCWA.

The water authority also could place liens on landlords property if the bills aren’t paid under the state law. 

The legislation would exempt the water authority from the law; it is not trying to change the actual law.