Friday, April 13, 1979
University Daily Kansan
5
Abnormally high water bills unexplained
Staff Reporter
By ROBIN SMITH
Last month, a KU student received a water bill for $118. His normal monthly bill
Another KU student said that her water bill six months ago was $11 but that last month her bill, which she refuses to pay, was $43.
The situations of both of these students have three common elements.
first, they both live in Stouffer Place, a married student housing complex owned by the University, on the corner of 19th and Iowa streets.
Second, they have both gone through the "run-around" between the water department and Stouffer Place in trying to explain the high water bills.
And third, neither has solved the problem of the unusual excess of water into their
Rasat Ansari, Karachi, Pakistan,
graduate student, who received the water
bill of $118, said yesterday that he was
involved and surprised" when he opened his
bill.
"I CALLED THE maintenance man at Stouffer right away," he said. "He told me to call the water department. The water department told me to call someone at Stouffe and then Stouffier referred me back to the water department.
"No one is taking the responsibility that there has been a mistake."
According to the water bill, Asari used 120,000 gallons of water between February 6 and March 5. That would mean more than 4,000 gallons of water a day or almost three
gallons of water a minute passed through his apartment.
Asari said he thought his high water bill could be the fault of a leaky toilet or a faulty toilet.
But employees at Stouffor Place said there was no leak in the apartment and they checked the water department said they chewed on the water and found it in proper working order.
JOE MATER, the Stouffer maintenance man who checked Ansari's apartment, rented a room.
However, J.J. Wilson, director of housing, said, "I have been told that we have run some checks on the apartment in question and there were no leaks reported.
Gene Vogt, director of utilities, said, "The meter was checked and the test proved that the system is working."
"But we have had some occasional meter problems."
However, it is possible that a lock in a toilet will pass more than 119,400 gallons of water.
Voit said the meter would be tested again next week and that Ansari would be asked, in accordance with a water department policy, to collect data. Ansari was unable to witness the first test.
Dean Milroy, supervisor for Stouffer maintenance, said there had been four other complaints concerning high water bills and leaking toilets.
“OUT OF THE TWO who called we only found oneOUND that had a leak,” he said. “And the leak was between the two buildings.” He checked that possibility also, but no leak.
Asnari asked, "What can I do now?" That water bill is higher than one month of my rent and no one is finding an answer. I don't have a car with this without letting my students slip."
Papa Holland, the other student, Topika
 junior, said she felt as helpss as Ansari
 Junior, said she felt as helpss as Ansari.
"MY SITUATION IS NOT as extreme as Ansari's, but it all adds up," she said.
After my first water bill, the cost that I am to pay kept rising. It started at a range of between $11 and $15. Then a bill came for $24 and for $31. That's when I started to wonder.
Holland said she got the same "run-around" as Ansari did when she tried to contact Stouffer maintenance and the water department. Holland said there also was nothing apparently wrong with her meter and no leak was found in her apartment.
"What upsets me is that I was forced to pay the $31 bill or they would turn off my water," Holland said. "Now if I don't pay for $43 then will turn off my water May 1."
"I've had enough of this place and I'm leaving shortly. So if they turn off my water, it won't bother me. I just feel sorry for the people who live here after me."
Both Ansari and Holland said they
planned to take legal action to resolve their situations.
Vogt said the water department would try to solve the problem as soon as possible.
"We are trying to determine what the problem is," he said. "Ansari is not going to be an innocent victim." But Ancestor驳倒ed.
"Both Stoufler and the water department tell me that I am not at fault, but I feel so bad."
Tax deadline near for W-4s
Those claiming exemption withholding taxes this year should file a new W-4 Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate before April 28. The form must be filed in the KU Payroll Office by then for employees to remain tax-exempt through next year.
Information concerning eligibility for exemption can be obtained from the Internal Revenue Service or the Payroll Office.
{1973}
Friday & Saturday
April 13 & 14
MEAN STREETS
Dir. Martin Scorsee; with Harvey
Keillet, Robert Deniro, Amy Robinson,
Cesare Danova.
Fri.-Sat. -3:30 8:30
Sat.-7:00
SWEPT AWAY
Dir. Lina Wurtmüller, with Giancarlo
Gianniell, Mariangela Melago, Italy's
tishttitles.
Fri - 7:00
Sat - 8:30 & 9:30
Tuesday, April 17
BROADWAY MELODY OF 1940
(1940)
Dir. Norman Taurug; with Fred Astaire, Eleanor Powell, George Murphy,
dance great sequences and songs.
Wednesday, April 18
Shakespeare:
BICUARD III
(1955)
Dir. Laurence Olivier with Laurence Olivier, Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud, Clarie Bloom, Cedric Hardwick. Considered by many to be the best filmed version of any of Shakespeare's plays.
Friday & Saturday April 20 & 21
Midnight Movie
SUPERVIXENS
Dlr. Fred Zinnmann; with Jane Fonda, Vanessa Redgrave, Jason Robbards. Based on a story by Lillian Awards. *No Friday matinee*
JULIA (1977)
Dir. Ruers Meyer; with Shari Eubank, Charles Kajper Buy your tickets early and enter the AT THE DOOR. BE CHECKED AT THE DOOR, SO BE BRUNG TO BRING THEM TO THE FILM.
(1975)
All films M-R shown in Woodruff Aud. at 7:30 unless otherwise noted. $1.00 admission.