Eight months into an inspector general investigation into high Pasco County water bills, Louise Gritmon is still frustrated.

Her more than $3,000 water bill is officially on hold, pending the county audit. But every month, when she gets her normal $40 bill, she notes the “past due” amount and get angrier. Especially since she hasn’t heard one word from the team conducting the audit.

“Nobody has contacted us,” she said. “How can you be investigating something and not even start at the beginning?”

Gritmon contacted 8 On Your Side last October, after Pasco County insisted she and her husband used 614,000 gallons of water in just 18 days. They had no leaks and weren’t even home during the time.

Plumber and plumber told 8 On Your Side the bill was impossible and that they consistently heard from other residents with unexplainable high water bills.

Hundreds complained to the Pasco County Clerk’s Office about their water bills.  Many complaining say they noticed higher bills after the county changed their water and started using an automated system to calculate water usage and bills. Those questionable bills were all placed on hold until the audit is over. Many of those folks now question what is taking so long. 

 Clerk Paula O’Neil tells 8 On Your Side that she anticipated the audit would take six months, but it was much more complicated than originally thought. She said the audit is in the final stages and a full report should go to the County Board of Commissioners next month. She said the report will be “lengthy.”

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