Missing: $5,500 Worth of Water

It had to go somewhere

By JONATHAN LLOYD

Updated 3:13 PM PST, Fri, Nov 6, 2009

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The meter didn't lie, according to Glendale Water and Power.

And it certainly didn't evaporate into thin air... wait, it could have, but unlikely.

So how did a Glendale man's home water meter register a 1.5-million gallon reading for his June bill? That added up to a $5,500 bill for the two-month period.

How much water is 1.5 million gallons? It's more than the monthly usage for 3,000-student Glendale High School.

LOOK

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Glendale Water and Power officials confirmed the reading was accurate.

Escott Norton disagreed. He told the City Council he didn't use the water and fought the bill.

Norton now owes just $350. He will be credited for about $2,800 in payments.

Officials said there's no evidence the water was stolen. They said is didn't go into storm drains or leak into the ground.

Utility General Manager Glenn Steiger said he just doesn't know where the water went.

First Published: Nov 6, 2009 7:54 AM PST

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OLDEST | RECENT

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