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Inkster Water Meters To Be Tested After Residents Soaked With High Bills

INKSTER (WWJ/AP) - Inkster officials are having some digital water meters tested following resident complaints of sky-high water bills.

Councilman Lorenzo Moner told the Detroit Free Press that the city recently hired a company to test 120 or 125 new meters. Moner said so far, one meter was found to be defective and additional testing will be performed.

The city started replacing about 9,000 old water meters with new ones after a study showed a number of people were being undercharged. But the switch prompted hundreds of people to complain about water bills as high as $6,900 during a recent public meeting.

Councilman Michael Canty said the new meters created a "balloon charge," increasing some residents' bills to catch them up on underpayments going back years.

Inkster officials have pledged to work with residents on the payments, but those who owe more than $350 are going to lose their water if they don't call city hall.

For more information, residents can contact Inkster City Hall at 313-563-4232.

TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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