BALTIMORE (AP) - A report released Monday by inspector generals in Baltimore and Baltimore County found the jurisdictions have lost millions of dollars in revenue due to problems with their water billing system despite spending more than $130 million to fix the issue.
The nearly nine-month investigation into the system found more than 22,000 digital water meters in the jurisdictions have “some type of operation issue,” The Baltimore Sun reported.
Many of those meters indicate water has not been used at a location, which the report said cost the jurisdictions millions of dollars. Other problems highlighted include more than 8,000 unresolved complaints on county water accounts.
Baltimore City Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cummings and Baltimore County Inspector General Kelly Madigan wrote “a fundamental lack of communication between the city and the county is central to the problems that have been plaguing the water billing system for years.” They recommended a more coordinated approach to fix the system, which the city runs.
“The relationship between the city and county regarding metered water service is arcane, confusing, and outdated,” Daniel Ramos, the deputy chief administrative officer for the city, said in a written response. The relationship was established by state law, he said, and altered by legal opinions that have “added to the complexity and confusion.”
“Largely because of this confusion and complexity, we have relied increasingly on contract and consultant support. This has led to more control of critical operations by contractors and consultants rather than city employees,” Ramos said.
City and County officials are now discussing how to coordinate on the billing issue, he added, and have hired a vendor to study communications and other issues about the system. Meanwhile, Stacy L. Rodgers, the county administrative officer, said officials are aware of the issue and “working aggressively to develop viable strategies that will begin to address these longstanding systemic issues.”
Mayor Brandon Scott and County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. said at a Monday morning news conference they would look at all options to improve the issue.
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