Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:06/30/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  The company got a 5 million dollar ***** and are building new buildings but guess what we still can't drink the water here. There's enough arsenic in our water to form tumors on my 5 *** fish I have had 2 years in a pond I own. What the h*** do you think it does to our bodies?! It's ridiculous and I'm about to have everyone I can sign a petition and we will refuse to pay our bills until the water is fixed. It's time we remind them who pays there bills. On top of not being able to drink this water here, apparently when a meter rolls over and reads that somehow someway have used the equivalent of water to an Olympic size pool,I have to pay the ***** dollar bill due to there meter rollover problem. People out here aren't bilingual and it isn't fair they get taken advantage of... Its time we stand up for ourselves here and do something about it

  Business Response

  Date: 07/17/2023

  Hi ****************:

   

  I was out of the office and did not receive your BBB complaint until this morning.  I am now able to respond to your complaint.  This is the first I have heard of any complaint from you.  Thus, it would have been appreciated had you contacted me first.  But nonetheless, you chose to file a complaint which I will respond to.  Your complaint is very hostile and NOT accurate in fact and data.  Thus, I will provide accurate information.

   

  First and most important:  The water is DRINAKBLE and SAFE for all human and animal life.  This is verified and confirmed by the State of ******************************** which we are heavily regulated by and required, by law, to provide water testing results regularly.  I dont know anything about your *** fish.  But I can tell you and PROVE to you that our water is tested by a **************** **************** approved lab.  Our water samples are provided every week.  Our water is BELOW the MCL for Arsenic as mandated by the *****************.  We are also below the levels for 123TCP on all except one well.  And that well is only **** above the mcl and only because we are constructing a new well because well 13 failed and was taken off line. That water is blended with other water and thus minimizes the arsenic that occurs NATURALLY in ground water.  The new well we are constructing shows water testing clean and free of Arsenic and TCP.  So, I do not know where you got your information that is not supported by any scientific or approved laboratory facts, but your information is wrong.  We send out our Consumer Confidence Report annually as required by law to every rate payer we service.  You have received those reports, but it appears you do not read them.  The consumer report provides data, actual real scientific data, numbers and facts from the lab testing we conduct and send to the ***************** as required. 

   

  As for your water bill, you did run up a huge balance during covid because you chose not to pay your bill in full for well over a year.  Those balances do not go away and you were made aware of that with the notices we sent our per Governor Newsomes water payment deferment requirements during covid.  You did bring your balance to zero in ******* 2022.  Your payment history shows you dont pay your bill for a few months until you receive notice of shut off.  Currently, your bill is $317.49 past due.

   

  In regard to your meter, your meter did not roll over.  The District has been replacing old out dated mechanical meters that are more than 30 years old, with modern smart meters that were paid for with a grant.  Your old meter was replaced with a brand new modern technology smart meter manufactured by ******************* a leader in smart meter technology.  Your old meter did not roll as you stated in your complaint.  It was replaced with a smart meter very similar to your gas meter and your PG&E meter.   Your meter was read before we replaced it and the starting number on the new meter was recorded.  We have documented proof.  The smart meters are more efficient and are more accurate for the customer.  So, again, I do not know where you got your information but is it not accurate.

   

  And finally, to address your statement about not having bilingual staff.  That is yet, another factually wrong statement.  Everyone one of the Lamont Public Utility District field utility workers ARE bilingual, fluent in English and Spanish.  All are from Hispanic or Latino heritage, although that makes no difference, because I also have 5 office staff who speak fluent English and Spanish, two of which are not Hispanic or Latino. 

   

  We are happy to answer your questions and assist you in any way possible, but you need to provide us that opportunity.  Tell us what the problem is and if it exists, we will do our best to address and fix it. 

  Please either you or the BBB feel free to reach out to me directly, I will provide all the factually correct scientific data you desire.

   

  Best regards,

   

  ***********************

  General Manager

  Lamont Public Utility District

  ************