By Peter Biello
Wilmington, NC – The Brunswick County city of Boiling Spring Lakes has sued more than forty of its residents for failing to connect to the city water system.
The city's ordinance says those living close enough to the water system must connect to it.
The ordinance went into effect more than three years ago and some residents still have not connected or paid city water fees.
City Manager David Lewis says he hopes the lawsuits will force those who still get their water from wells to connect to the city's pipes.
"Property owners were given thirty days to make the payment, after which time there became a lien on their property, and now by state statute there's interest being charged on any outstanding balances."
The courts found in favor of the city of Boiling Spring Lakes on similar lawsuits filed last year.
Lewis says these forty lawsuits won't be the last, and the court will most likely make a decision on them this summer.
Do you have insight or expertise on this topic? Please e-mail us, we'd like to hear from you. news@whqr.org.