APOPKA, Fla. – An Apopka renter who alerted News 6 after finding a utility balance exceeding $30,000 has received more information about the account. City officials also say the massive bill does not appear to be related to the city’s earlier water-meter and billing problems.
Apopka records indicate that water consumption at the East First Street home surged over several months, reaching 1,015,601 gallons during the most recent billing cycle, from Aug. 3 through Sept. 3.
The account’s total balance was listed at $30,198.77. The amount was not generated by a single month’s usage: It included $20,890.49 in past-due charges, plus $9,308.28 from the latest cycle. The current charges consisted of $8,462.07 for water and $846.21 in county tax.
Adam Golden, who rents the property, said he discovered the size of the bill after the city disconnected the water and he signed into the account.
“We logged in to see what the situation was, and it was a $30,198 bill,” Golden said.
City records show water use climbing for months
The city’s account history suggests the extraordinary usage developed over time rather than appearing during just one billing period.
Reported consumption rose from 10,900 gallons in April to 57,262 gallons in May. It then jumped to 330,144 gallons in June, 669,976 gallons in July and 860,642 gallons in August before reaching 1,015,601 gallons on the latest bill.
Over the 31-day billing cycle, that amount equates to approximately 32,800 gallons per day — or nearly 23 gallons every minute.
According to the city, officials detected a “constant flow” of water in May 2026 and sent a water-conservation notice to the property.
Steven Montiero, Apopka’s public information director, told News 6 that the account’s usage pattern was immediately unusual.
“We don’t see things like that, even with our previous water billing issues,” Montiero said. “The spike here was rather dramatic.”
The city later said it disconnected service in May, June and July. Officials said the water was restored after each shutoff by either the resident or the property owner.
However, city officials have not identified who turned the service back on during each incident.
On Sept. 23, city workers installed an Ally meter, a device that gives the city remote control over the property’s water service.
Montiero said the system allows workers to restore water temporarily when necessary and shut it off again as repairs to the plumbing issue continue.
City says problem appears to be a slab leak
City employees inspected the property Thursday after News 6 reached out about the unusually high balance.
Officials said their initial review found no leak on the city’s side of the meter. Montiero said the meter was operating correctly, while conditions at the residence pointed to a potential leak on the private side of the system.
Following additional inspection, the city told News 6 that the likely source is a slab leak beneath the residence.
The city says this case is not connected to the previous water-meter and billing problems that affected other Apopka customers.
“This specific case is not related to any of that,” Montiero said.
Golden said city officials showed him records documenting the rise in water consumption.
“They pulled out an actual sheet showing the usage over the last two years, and then where the spike happened, and how it was just such a rapid escalation of water consumption,” he said.
Concern about where the water went
Golden said one of his biggest concerns is what that amount of water may have done beneath or around the property.
He said city staff checked several areas for signs of sinking or moisture and found only some softer spots near an oak tree.
“That’s a huge concern,” Golden said. “They went and did the jump test on a bunch of spots to see if there was any, like, sink or any moisture … and that’s what’s weird. There wasn’t.”
News 6 asked the city whether that much water could create concerns such as soil erosion, ground instability, sinkholes or foundation damage.
The city responded that “that much water can cause a multitude of issues to any property” and said the resident was instructed to contact the landlord as soon as possible to arrange appropriate inspections.
Montiero also said the location of the water was one of the city’s biggest questions when staff arrived at the home.
“Where does a million gallons of residential water go in just August?” he said.
Plumber repairs leak; more work planned
Golden later told News 6 that a plumber located and repaired the leak.
He said the plumber also plans to replumb the entire home as a precaution.
The city says once the leak is properly repaired, the resident or property owner can provide documentation of that work. The city will then review the account and determine what credit will be applied.
The city has not provided a specific credit amount.
Golden said earlier in the day that he hoped the plumbing problem could be fixed quickly and the bill could ultimately be adjusted.
“The plumber fixes the line and they average our bill back out to what it should’ve been,” he said when asked what he hoped would happen next.
For now, the city says the meter itself is working properly, the suspected leak is on the private side of the property and the final amount owed will depend on the city’s review after repair documentation is submitted.
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