Will Atlanta's water crisis affect your next bill?

Atlanta struggles to deal with the aftermath of the water crisis

The mayor and city council of Atlanta want to anticipate the water crisis that has hit our city for five days. Mayor Andre Dickens has already announced that the city will set aside $5 million to help businesses that were negatively impacted by the water main break, but what about residents?

ATLANTA – Atlanta’s mayor and city council are trying to get ahead of the water crisis that has hit the city for five days.

Mayor Dickens has already announced that the city will set aside $5 million to help businesses that were negatively impacted by the water main break, but what about residents?

RELATED NEWS: How Much Money Has Atlanta’s Water Crisis Cost Local Businesses?

Atlanta Watershed Management said the water bill cycle has not yet been addressed since the water main break, so residents are not yet sure how their bills will be affected.

Atlanta likely lost millions of gallons of water during the five-day water crisis.

The question remains how these dramatic disruptions will affect residents who may have billing issues.

“The city council doesn’t know yet. The city council’s utilities committee has not met during the crisis and it won’t meet until tomorrow morning,” revealed city councilor Howard Shook.

Councilor Shook said council members will have the first chance to address the uncertainty water main breaks could create for residents. They will wait for news from the Dickens administration.

Atlanta water crisis: help for small businesses

Small businesses have been particularly affected by this crisis. Many have been forced to close their doors every day since the water pipes broke. But they could soon get a shot in the arm. Mayor Andre Dickens says he is establishing a financial aid program for small businesses that have lost money during the crisis.

RELATED NEWS: Atlanta Water Crisis: Where Was Mayor Andre Dickens?

“One of the questions, among many, will be: ‘To what extent, if at all, does the administration consider developing a proposal whereby residents who can demonstrate that their service ‘water was reduced during the break could there be a possibility of being refunded?'” shared the District 7 council.

“We want to help people who have had problems that were not their fault,” said Utilities President Antonio Lewis.

This meeting will take place on Tuesday at 10 a.m. FOX 5 Atlanta will be there to monitor the situation.