Eaton Fire survivors in Altadena are pushing back against their water company after receiving bills for service on properties that have sat empty — and dry — for more than a year since the devastating blaze.
Ricky Parish is one of several frustrated residents who contacted ABC7 On Your Side Investigates after receiving an unexpected bill this month. Parish says the water meter on his lot was destroyed in the fire, and his property is now little more than bare dirt. He says he has used zero water on the lot since the Eaton Fire tore through the community.
“Absolutely none, there’s no pipes,” Parish said.
Parish received a bill for $37.85. Most of the charge is listed as a “water service charge,” with a small portion going toward a “catastrophic loss fund.” He was stunned.
“I thought, ‘This is ridiculous. How can they charge us for something that we don’t have?'” Parish said. “We haven’t used water in over a year.”
Retired resident Cynthia Perello received the same bill. After the fire destroyed her home, Perello relocated to France, where she says the cost of living is far more manageable. She called the bill deeply unfair.
“It just adds insult to injury because I retired, and I’m on a fixed income. And so, you know, we’re on a really serious budget now,” Perello said.
Both Parish and Perello are customers of the Lincoln Avenue Water Company (LAWC), a private water utility based in Altadena. In a statement to ABC7, LAWC defended the charges, saying the revenue is needed to keep the system running.
“Revenue from these charges directly supports fixed operational costs, maintenance, repairs, and system improvements, particularly in the wake of ongoing recovery efforts,” LAWC said. “This is not a new fee… With the loss of 58% of our customers, continuing to waive this charge is not sustainable.”
LAWC added that it is working to secure state funds to help cover repair costs, and hopes that government money will allow it to suspend the charges again.
Parish, however, says the bills feel deeply unjust.
“Really not fair to us after what we’ve been through. After all the things that we’ve had to endure, I mean, I’m standing here. My property is dirt,” he said.
Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s office told ABC7’s Altadena coverage team that the supervisor believes the best path forward is consolidating the three private water companies that currently serve the Altadena area. Barger’s office says depending on small, private water companies to independently rebuild after a fire of this scale is simply not realistic.
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