Water was shut off at Westwood Plaza and Roselawn Apartments run by Pico Union Housing Monday night due to management failing to make payments to SAWS.
SAN ANTONIO — Families and children at the Westwood Plaza and Roselawn Apartments woke up to no water Tuesday.
The San Antonio Water System told KENS 5 California based non-profit Pico Union Housing failed to pay over $120,000 for water which shut the water off Monday night.
“We all pay our water bills…we do not need to be going through this situation,” a resident at the Westwood apartments Juliann Bienvenidez said.
Executive Director of the non-profit Gloria Farias said her organization has paid some of what is owed but they got to this point because tenants have not paid their bills.
“I’m not blaming anybody, it’s our responsibility, it’s just that not many people have paid their rent nor their water,” Farias said.
Farias claims she has entered into a payment plan with SAWS but a representative said that is not true. The representative did say the non-profit entered into a payment plan but failed to make payment and broke the contract.
Farias said it doesn’t matter whether people have paid or not paid their bills, everyone has their water off.
“Because it has to be a whole building…we have enough for that building that we’re looking for right now,” she added.
Farias said their goal is to have the water on Tuesday night but residents told KENS 5 they heard from Farias it wouldn’t be turned on for a couple of days.
Regarding the sudden notice of water being shut off, Farias did not have an answer.
She did add that the non-profit is trying to pull money from other properties to try and help this one.
The Serenity Apartments were also had their water shut-off. KENS 5 confirmed with SAWS their water was turned back on Tuesday afternoon after the complex made their payment.
Statement regarding Serenity Apartments from Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito
The Serenity Apartments were originally scheduled for disconnection between June 10 and 11. However, the property management indicated they needed until June 17 to make the payment. Our office worked with Neighborhood and Housing Services to delay the disconnection until June 18. The Councilwoman spoke with SAWS to request a further extension on June 17 and implored them to work with the property managers to address the nonpayment so the residents would not be affected.
Our office also reached out to the Neighborhood and Housing Services Department to have assistance on hand in the event of a disconnection. The Serenity Apartments made their payment today; unfortunately their water had already been disconnected, but eventually restored.
“Residents should not be punished for the landlord’s lack of response and their neglect of duty to care for their tenants,” said Councilwoman Alderete Gavito. “I would have preferred to have seen SAWS take another route that would not impact residents, but instead focus on holding irresponsible landlords accountable. The actions of SAWS lack compassion for our tenants who are unable to defend themselves in cases like these.”
“In addition, SAWS executed simultaneous disconnections across the city. Staggering the disconnections would have allowed the city departments to help each apartment complex on a case-by-case basis. Instead, the city’s capacity to rectify this situation is now spread out between the remaining complexes that have not yet made payments.”
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