The water bill. - Sheldon Williams

A St Catherine man got the shock of his life recently when he received a $47-million water bill from the National Water Commis-sion (NWC).

Portmore resident John Camp-belltold THE STAR he retrieved the bill from his home mailbox on June 26 and was astonished when it said the amount owing was $47,636,945.96, due on June 30.

The bill was drafted for the billing period May 14 to June 7 and represented the water usage at Camp-bell's home for a 23-day period. Campbell said he knew immediately that it was incorrect as that amount valued more than his house and premises, where he has been living for the past eight years.

He also pointed out that there are no water leaks at his home which he shares with his adult son and the most water they use is for laundry, which is done once per week.

Campbell visited the NWC's Portmore office the following Monday and was advised that the company would assign someone to visit his home to inspect his water meter. However, that person is yet to arrive.

Efforts to speak with corporate communications manager at the NWC, Charles Buchanan, proved futile as calls to his cellular phone went unanswered yesterday. When the NWC's Public Relations Department in New Kingston, St Andrew, was contacted, a Ms Williams said she wasn't aware of the incident, but would carry out checks and get back to THE STAR before 5 p.m. yesterday.

Up to late last night, and despite several calls, nothing was heard from her.

Campbell expressed his discontent at the bill, saying, "Only we the poorer people, dem things here affect." Campbell also offered a word of advice to the NWC: "The staff needs to be more assertive, more detailed and check the information on the bill before it is dispatched ... in addition, they should compensate me because that bill would kill me."

Campbell said he always pays his water bill on time. The highest water bill he ever got before this current one was $4,800.

After internal investigations were conducted by the NWC, Campbell was asked to pay only $653.53. He said he is yet to receive a formal apology from the water company