SAN ANTONIO — On Tuesday, tenants from six different apartment complexes were informed by the San Antonio Water Systems (SAWS) their water could be shut off next week, due to unpaid debt. In many cases, tenants had paid their water bill, but the landlord hadn’t paid SAWS.
That’s the case for Jamie Foster, who lives at the Executive Apartments off De Chantle road.
“I got two kids, so I don't know how it's going to be without water,” she said. “I am very concerned for everybody. Everybody that has children, old people. I'm very worried because, you know, usually when people lose water, they have to go to Walmart and buy big jugs of water. We have to pay out of pocket, but we're paying for water.”
The six apartments who had received notices had debts ranging from $15,000 to $40,000 according to SAWS, who in a statement told KENS 5:
“Our Customer Service team has contacted these locations many times over the recent months trying to obtain payment. Unfortunately, these locations remain unpaid. SAWS has been in regular contact with the appropriate City and County departments, as well as with City Council. SAWS will continue to try to resolve these payment issues with these locations, but ensuring commercial accounts like these have been paid is critical to service to all our customers.”
Two of the six apartments who were notified Tuesday had over 200 units at their complexes.
Last month, SAWS cut off water to four apartments for similar reasons to crackdown on landlord debt, saying by doing so, it was ultimately successful. Two of the four apartments owed over $100,000.
By Thursday, only two apartments including the Executive Apartments were left with unpaid debts.
KENS 5 reached out to the Executive Apartments but were unable to make contact.