Daley Moves to Stop Leaky Water Billing

By Chuck Sudo in News on Oct 5, 2010 3:30PM

The Sun-Times investigation into how properties throughout the city are billed for water may have been news to some, but not Mayor Daley. Daley introduced an ordinance early last month in anticipation of the Bright One's expose, as an attempt to both get ahead of the story and to modernize a billing system that was established back when Chicago still counted furs and livestock as currency.

The proposed legislation calls for contractors to be billed a flat fee for water and sewer service the moment a permit is issued allowing them to tap into a water main "until such time as a properly-functioning water meter is secured and installed."

Although Daley proposed the legislation last month, Department of Water Management spokesman Tom LaPorte said the legislation has been in the works for "nearly a year."