Appealing a Water Usage Charge

How to appeal a water usage charge

An owner of property who wishes to dispute a water usage charge must first apply for an abatement with the Town Water Department. The Abatement Application must be completed and returned to the DPW Office no later than the date that the bill in question is due. Once the application is received by the office an appointment time will be set for your abatement request to be brought before the Board of Water Commissioner. If the Water Department denies the appeal, an owner may proceed in one of two ways. 

Paid water bills: If the owner has timely paid the disputed charge, the owner may file a civil action to recover excess water bill payments in either the District Court under G.L. c.218,§ 19 (where the amount of expected recovery does not exceed $2,500.00) or the Superior Court under G. L. c.212 §4

Unpaid water bills: If a water charge remains unpaid, it becomes a lien on the property, and the Appellate Tax Board will have jurisdiction over the unpaid charge. (See G.L. c. 40, §42A-42F.) An owner whose appeal to the Town's Water Department has been denied or deemed denied may file an appeal to the Appellate Tax Board upon the same terms and conditions as a person aggrieved by the refusal of the Assessors to abate a tax.(See G.L. c. 59, §65)

PLEASE NOTE: The Appellate Tax Board does not have jurisdiction over water or sewer betterment charges. See G.L. c.80, §7 & 10