Wilcox County Residents Face Rising Water Bills

Residents in Wilcox County, Alabama, the county with the least resources, are grappling with an unexpected surge in water bills.

In Camden and the surrounding areas, people have noticed a considerable increase in their monthly expenses from the Wilcox County Water and Sewer District, leading many to worry about their ability to pay.

One local, Janet Thompson, mentioned that her bill exceeded $160 last month, though it did drop to $137 this month; still, she feels it’s too much to handle.

Due to fixed incomes, many residents are now making tough choices about which utility expenses to prioritize.

Elizabeth Bennett, a Camden resident, shared her strategy of dividing payments between her water and electricity bills to avoid disconnection.

During a recent meeting of the Heat Water and Sewer District Committee, residents sought clarity on the rising bills. Chairman Matty Dennis explained that the increases were due to several financial obligations, such as repaying $3 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture loans for infrastructure upgrades, covering new office building mortgage costs, and purchasing water from surrounding systems.

Dennis also noted that the district currently lacks adequate water resources to serve all its customers, necessitating the purchase of additional water from outside systems.

While the district claimed that a city hall meeting had been announced before the changes were made, many residents felt unaware and excluded from the process, stating they never received the notification.

Another resident, Charles Burrell, expressed concern that only water department representatives attended the meeting, leaving out broader community input.

At this point, the board has not shown any intentions to reduce rates, although Dennis mentioned they will consider feedback from residents. The next meeting of the Water and Sewerage District is set for July 22nd.