The Warrenton Board of Aldermen heard a plea last week for relief from a more than $1,000 water bill.Charity Rowland came with her fiance and 5-month-old son to ask for help with the bill at the board’s Jan. 3 meeting. Rowland, who rents a home in Warrenton with her fiance, said in November they received a bill for $1,061. She said the bill stated they had used more than 126,000 gallons of water.That’s enough water to fill a 2,000-square-foot house, running up to 3 gallons per minute for 30 days.Rowland said their December bill was for more than 21,000 gallons of water, adding another $200 to the total. When Rowland didn’t pay, the water was shut off.Public Works Director Guy Gevers said Rowland’s water meter had been checked to ensure it was working properly, and hadn’t changed since shutting off the water.The only explanation offered for how the water bill could have gotten so high was a running toilet Rowland said had only recently been fixed by her landlord. But Rowland didn’t think a toilet could account for 126,000 gallons.Alderman Karen Casserly disagreed.“I’ve had this problem myself, so I know it uses a lot of water when your toilet is broken,” Casserly said. “Doing the math for 29 days … the 126,000 is a legitimate number.”The city’s policy is that property owners are responsible for their own water and sewer system. They are billed for all the water that flows through their system, including due to leaks, and are responsible for any repairs.“I would think if the landlord realized that this is part of the property’s problems, that there could be some arrangement you could have with them to reimburse you,” Casserly said.If not, board members asked City Attorney Christopher Graville if this would be a matter for small claims court.“No doubt about it,” Graville said. “Typically your lease states that your landlord is required to provide a livable property — properly working, functioning amenities. A small claims reimbursement would probably be a smart move.”There isn’t much else the city can do except offer an extended time frame for Rowland to pay, Alderman Gary Auch told Rowland.“These are always hard,” Auch said. “We realize you’re a young couple and you’re trying to do your best. If we waived everybody’s (bill) throughout the whole city every time this occurred, you’d have to ask yourself, ‘Is it worth it to provide water service?’“I think the route you should go is sign a six-month agreement with the city to pay the bill, Auch said. “Then pursue the issue in small claims court with your landlord.”City of Warrenton