I am a 79 your old retired Navy veteran and a six year Oak Run Community resident. While I was away from home for six weeks a large water pipe feeding the water softener on the left side of my home came apart. The water flowed above ground into the woods behind my home. It discharged approximately 23,580 gallons of water each day. About six days after the leak began my water meter was read and showed very excessive water usage. Four days later Marion County Utilities responded with an automated telephone water leak message they sent to a local 352 area code telephone number.
That number is owned by a person with private well water and has no connection to me. My only phone number for at least the past 10 years begins with area code 609. Two days later, a work order was issued sending a Marion County Utilities worker to my home. Finding no one at home the worker allegedly hung a message on the outside handle of my unlocked front porch screen door concerning the water leak. The message has never been seen by any neighbors or by me. He obviously did not look around my yard where the flowing water above ground was extensive and visible.
My 609 cell phone number and the telephone numbers of three of my neighbors are clearly posted on my front door which is just 8 feet inside the unlocked porch screen door. The water leak was allowed to continue for 28 more days after his visit. At the next water meter reading the meter reader entered my still unlocked front porch, called my posted cell phone and finally shut my water off. A grand total of 731,000 gallons of water had been lost.
I am unfairly being required to pay in excess of $2200 for the total water loss even after all possible discounts were taken. I don’t feel I am responsible for the last 28 days of the leak. I have submitted written email appeals to management and to one of our county supervisors with no success to date. Florida Consumer Affairs has refused to investigate because the county government is involved.
Can anyone please help me?
Please share this information with other Oak Run Residents.
Ray Gangluff, 8119 SW 108th Loop Ocala, FL 34481
email: raygangluff@hotmail.com
