A Southwest Atlanta apartment complex had its water services interrupted on Tuesday when the management company for the complex failed to pay the bill according to a representative from the Department of Watershed Management.
Residents from the Lakewood Forest apartments received a letter from management stating the Department of Watershed Management and the City of Atlanta summarily terminated water services without considering an alternative solution.
Lakewood Forest resident Jasmin Ridley said she was using the water when the water services were disconnected.
“I was washing dishes and I didn’t immediately react, I figured that they were working on the water and thought maybe it would be on in a couple of hours or so,” said Ridley.
A representative from the Department of Watershed Management said that before the water is disconnected, they always make several attempts via conversations and calls to the property manager or leasing office asking them to address the balance.
“There are times where we may go out to the property if we are unable to get in contact with an apartment complex to see if we can physically speak with someone. If after several attempts and we still haven’t been able to get in contact with anyone, we have no other choice than to disconnect services,” said Department of Watershed representative.
“I was one of the few that really went to my resources, I called the City of Atlanta, Code Enforcement and the Health Environmental Service,” said Ridley.
Lakewood Forest houses many families with young children. A Good Samaritan heard about the emergency and rushed to the rescue bringing bottles of water. Corrine Foster said that she immediately filled up her truck with cases of water to aid the women and children at this complex.
“We are always hearing about bad things that happen in the world, I just wanted to let people know that there are still good people that will do good things,” said Foster.
The water services were restored the following day. The complex management would only state that the water services had been restored.
The management company, American Management Group had a similar issue last month with another one of its properties according to WSBTV. Water services were disconnected at the Brentwood Creek Apartments in April, when the American Management Group failed to make payment. The former property manager at that complex estimated that water bill to have been around $486,000.
Michael Cornell is an outstanding reporter. Thanks for this update!
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