Sewer Bill Delinquents Could Lose Water

Some 200 Lower Macungie homeowners owing about $350,000 in delinquent sewer bills have until Nov. 28 to pay up or their water will be turned off, township officials said.

Fliers were placed on the doors of the 200 homeowners on Nov. 12 and 13 warning them of the impending water shutdown, according to Cassandra Williams, township director of finance. With 200 homeowners racking up $350,000 in unpaid bills, that works out to an average of $1,750 per homeowner.

"These were the worst offenders," said Township Manager Bruce Fosselman. "Some people owed thousands."

If the Lehigh County Authority shuts off a resident's water for unpaid sewer bills, it will cost that resident an additional $80 to get it turned on again.

Williams and Fosselman said they've heard from many of the delinquents since the fliers went out. Some said they didn't realize they had to pay for sewer service directly. "They thought it was part of their mortgage escrow," Fosselman said.

Fosselman said the township had sent these homeowners numerous sewer bills.

There will be more fliers going out to additional sewer scofflaws, he said.