Omar Saleh, a 22-year-old property owner in Chicago, finds himself in a distressing situation after receiving an astonishing water bill of over $71,000 for a vacant building that had been severely damaged by fire.
Once home to a family-run convenience store named 3400 Food & Liquor, the building located in West Garfield Park was meant to provide Saleh with a promising start in life. However, after two fires swept through the property in the spring of 2023, Saleh’s plans turned into a financial nightmare.
The initial fire was attributed to electrical issues, but the second, occurring just a month later, was deemed arson by city officials.
Since the second incident, the building has remained boarded up and vacant, yet that did not prevent the influx of a staggering water bill sent to Saleh in November 2024, 18 months after the blazes.
“I was shocked when I saw the bill. It doesn’t make sense,” Saleh shared.
Upon contacting the city’s customer service regarding the exorbitant bill, Saleh was frequently met with suggestions that there might be a leak in the property. Confused and concerned, he pointed out the notable spike in water usage recorded by the water meter after the fires, which persisted for five months.
Under Chicago’s municipal code, the city has a legal obligation to inform property owners of water leaks and to shut off the water supply within 24 hours if the leak remains unaddressed. However, Saleh claims he was never notified about the alleged leak, allowing the water to run for months seemingly unchecked.
“It is the property owner’s responsibility to report their vacant property to the department of buildings. When that does not occur, water service and billing continues,” a spokesperson for the city stated, implying that the onus was on Saleh for the lack of communication.
In response to Saleh’s grievances, the city maintained that they disagreed with his interpretation of the code but did not offer further clarification regarding the situation.
Feeling overwhelmed and ignored, Saleh remarked, “It just feels like I’m getting nowhere. It’s disheartening to think it could take me years to resolve this issue or pay off this bill.”
However, following inquiries from NBC 5 Responds, some relief came for Saleh. The city acknowledged the oversight in billing and cut down approximately $13,000 in late fees, conceding he had not received his water bills because they were incorrectly mailed to the vacant building.
Furthermore, later adjustments eliminated an additional $4,000 from his bill without any clear explanation from the city.
“I shouldn’t have to rely on NBC 5 Responds to get assistance in this situation,” Saleh expressed his frustration, emphasizing the emotional toll this ordeal has taken.
In January, the city introduced a Water Leak Relief Pilot Program aimed at offering assistance to customers facing steep bills due to major water leaks. To see if they qualify for the program, inspectors are required to determine the source of the leak. Unfortunately for Saleh, city officials have declared his building unsafe for inspectors to evaluate, rendering him ineligible for any financial relief under the new program.
Despite the challenges he continues to face, Saleh remains hopeful for a resolution but is wary of how long this process may take. As of now, he is still left grappling with an overwhelming water bill, battling for answers and relief from the city.
image source from：https://www.nbcchicago.com/consumer/city-sends-71000-water-bill-to-owner-of-vacant-fire-damaged-building/3754719/
