On Thursday morning, the St. Petersburg City Council addressed growing concerns over what many residents are calling exorbitantly high water bills.

Some homeowners reported receiving utility bills in the thousands of dollars, even while away on vacation.

Frustration is mounting as typical bills of a few hundred dollars have surged to over $1,000. Residents are stunned when checking their bank accounts, reeling from the unexpected costs.

“I only noticed the high bill after it was withdrawn from my account,” said St. Pete resident David Kuoch.

The mounting bills are becoming a burden for homeowners.

“The first shocking water bill came three Fridays ago when I opened my mail—it was $725,” said Susan Gagle.

Kuoch added, “The first was $2,400, covering the post-hurricane period from October 7 to November 7. Then I got another for $2,500, followed by one for $2,100 the next month.”

Everyone is left wondering: what’s causing this?

“The numbers are baffling. Why would they spike suddenly with no explanation? It’s illogical, and when something doesn’t add up, you have to investigate,” Gagle said.

In early February, the city paused all late fees and water shutoffs.

During Thursday’s meeting, the council heard a presentation outlining potential causes, such as property leaks or issues with estimated meter readings.

Proposed solutions include revising city codes for greater resident relief, increasing the use of digital meters, and advancing metering infrastructure upgrades.

Yet, many homeowners remain in disbelief at the financial toll.

“There’s an old saying: where there’s smoke, there’s fire. From my view, and the data backs this up, there’s clearly an issue. You don’t jump from $200 to $2,000 overnight without something being wrong,” Kuoch said.

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