She's getting wet.
An elderly Queens resident could lose her home after the Environmental Protection Agency slapped her with a water bill of $22,828.71.
Margaret McGowan, 86, says she never paid more than $85 a month in the 50 years she lived at her flushing home, but they charged about $850 a month in the interim after DEP closed the water meter for about two years for repairs.
According to her supporters, it would have represented about 10 water pools per month for a small home for seniors.
“It was a shock to me to make the bill higher.
Now, Queens homeowners are facing a final appeal with Waterboard after refusing to appeal with the two DEPs.
Sen. John Liu (D-16) and state legislator Ed Brownstein joined McGowan in front of his home this morning, demanding that DEP be held liable for the misconduct.
“The DEP not only needs to cancel this ridiculous $22,000 bill. They need to issue an apology to Mrs. McGowan,” said Sen. Liu, who expressed concern that this could be happening to other city residents.
The trouble began in January 2022. DEP discovered equipment issues at Mrs. McGowan's home, and while the agency was freezing the bill for two years, the agency resolved the meter issues.
Once resolved in January 2024, the agency sent a bill on the back for the elapsed time of the number to drop the jaw.
Despite multiple attempts by McGowan to appeal the charges, the DEP has not accepted liability. The agency threatened to place a lien on the house if the amount was not paid in full.
The agency argues that the sky-high bill must be a result of a lack of leaks at McGowan's home, but lawmakers scoffed at the idea.
“It's their suggestion that it was 10 swimming pools and there was some kind of leak. Can you measure if there are 10 water pools per month?” Assembly member Brownstein.
“The whole neighborhood would know. It obviously didn't happen.”
Senator Liu shared that even McGowan's bank encouraged her to pay huge debts to prevent it from being done against her home.
“This poses a serious threat to the ownership of her home, which Mrs. McGowan has been in possession for many years. So, not only is DEP digging into his heels in a defenseless position, but he is also threatening Mrs. McGowan with his long-standing homelessness, threatening to be totally outrageous and unacceptable,” Liu said.
McGowan currently has no legal advisors, but he says he is working with the auditing body to help with the ongoing battle.
“I don't understand what's going on. I really need help,” she said.
In response to McGowan's claim, a DEP spokesman told the Post.
“There are no issues with the meter itself, and the high prices in question are based on rising real estate consumption. However, this issue has been appealed by NYC Waterboard and we are reviewing what we can do to help this customer.”
