Atlanta business owner's $30,000 water bill dispute helped inspire new city legislation

An Atlanta business owner who has spent years fighting a nearly $30,000 water bill says his case remains unresolved, even after his experience helped inspire changes to how the city handles disputed water charges.The Atlanta City Council approved two measures last week aimed at giving some customers more options when challenging unusually high water bills. One expands the authority of the city's Water and Sewer Appeals Board, while the other allows the Department of Watershed Management to negotiate certain disputed balances.But for Jeff Raw, who runs a small construction business with his sister, the changes raise a new question: Will they help resolve his own case?Raw's dispute began while he was building a home on Alston Drive in southeast Atlanta. He says the city began charging for water before the house was connected to the meter.A city water bill dated May 18, 2023, showed a balance of $29,695.67.Months later, on Dec. 19, 2023, Jonathan Williams, then a deputy commissioner with