MEMPHIS, Tenn. — “We did not have any water all yesterday and all last night. It was ridiculous to the point you can’t even take a bath, wash dishes or anything,” said Cherwrika Wall.
She was echoing the frustration plenty of renters at Eden Pointe Apartments felt after coming home to find there was no water.
“Our water is not on so we can’t even cook or boil anything,” said another resident.
MLGW warned tenants a week ago by letter that this was coming.
Yet, the apartment managers said they had no idea, even telling WREG the water bill had been paid.
It turns out that wasn’t quite true.
MLGW said at least two buildings at Eden Pointe were $6,000 behind in their utility payment.
The residents paid their rent, which includes the water payment, and the apartments is supposed to pay the bill, only they didn’t.
So MLGW turned off the flow.
When the people pay their rent they say there is at least one thing they expect, to have water.
“That is just unsatisfying, makes people want to move out and not pay their rent,” said Wall.
The apartment manager refused to talk with us on camera and sent out security guards who made us leave and even tried to stop us from talking to people from the sidewalk.
MLGW says it tries to avoid these cutoffs and sends notices in hopes that residents can also convince the apartments to pay up.
They said Eden Pointe made a payment Tuesday morning and the water was turned back on.
Still, it doesn’t relieve the discomfort residents had to endure.
“We are not covered at all. They not doing nothing for us, like nothing,” said another resident.
As a way to protect renters, MLGW now requires a paid deposit from apartment owners to get their utilities reconnected.
That deposit is then kept in reserve and can be used against any delinquent bill in the future.
