Natick Has New Policy For Unusual Water, Sewer Bills

NATICK, MA — Natick has created a new policy for residents to appeal outrageous water and sewer bills, a change that comes after two separate residents got bills topping $10,000 in 2020.

The new policy gives the Deputy Town Administrator for Operations power to reduce water and sewer bills for four specific reasons: clerical error, a confirmed meter malfunction, a malfunction of town infrastructure — and finally, a failure of an essential piece of home infrastructure like a leaky pipe or faucet; but a homeowner must demonstrate the water did not enter the sewer system.

That last justification sounds similar to what Natick landlord William Kourtis experienced in 2020. A toilet leak in a rental unit he owned along West Central Street went unnoticed, and he got a $15,000 bill for it. The Select Board later reduced it to about $8,500 and granted Kourtis a payment plan.

One month later, Natick homeowner Enzo Raggiani appealed nearly $13,000 in water and sewer charges. Raggiani told Patch his bills were a few hundred dollars over the first half of 2020. Then the bills jumped to $6,500 and $5,700, and he had no idea why. The Select Board denied his appeal in November.

Natick's new policy also sets a 60-day time limit for appeals. If the Deputy Town Administrator for Operations denies the appeal, ratepayers can still appeal to the Select Board, the policy says.

The new policy will go into effect July 1. Read the full policy on the town's website.