Los Angeles couple billed nearly 10,000 dollars over broken water meter

A retired Southern California nurse and her husband, a Vietnam War veteran, received a water bill of nearly $10,000 due to a broken meter that went undetected for years, the New York Post reported. Joyce Howell, aged 82, and her husband have resided in their Los Angeles home since the 1960s, where they brought up 10 children. [1]

According to the New York Post, citing NBC Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power issued the couple a bill exceeding $9,200 earlier this year. The charge covered water usage measured between February 2023 and March 2026. Howell originally believed a pipe leak in her home caused the high charges and requested her daughter, Stephanie, to contact the utility company for clarification. [1]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass directed the Department of Water and Power to halt utility shutoffs through the end of the year for residents who cannot pay their bills. The temporary pause on water and electricity disconnections was introduced after record heat across the city led to elevated utility bills. [5]

Howell expressed concern over the unexpected financial demand, stating that elderly individuals lack additional income and cannot return to work to pay off sudden utility debts, the New York Post reported. [1]