Kimberly Shoop thought retirement would look a lot different.

She says, "This is not the way I wanted to live at 65 years old." 

Shoop says her and her husband moved into the Popp's Mobile Home Park almost four years ago.
They - have a budget.
Now rising water bills have forced her out of retirement and back into the workforce.

A water filtration system is in the kitchen with water jugs being purchased often, just so water consumption inside the home is minimized.
But that doesn't matter.

Everyone inside the park is paying the same monthly water bill - no matter family size or water usage.

John Borges says, "My last water bill, this may shock you, is $174 dollars for one month."

Borges says he is advocating for his fellow mobile home park neighbors, after water, sewer and trash used to be one bill -
The cost: $30. 

It's an issues that has also been brought to the attention of summit township supervisors

Brian Hines from the Summit Township Water Authority confirmed in 2021 the township stopped reading individual water meters in the park.
He says equipment and billing costs got too high.

So now - The township water authority provides water service to a master meter and
The park owner Horizon Land Management controls all aspects of distribution and billing.
By using the RUBS system....

A statement from Horizon says, 

"Under guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Popp's transitioned to a ratio utility billing system (RUBS), A third-party billing company that specializes in rubs calculations prepares the monthly invoices, and residents are billed 90% of the actual water bill. Popp's has sent numerous communications to residents informing them of the rubs process, including the fact that Popp's would prefer to utilize sub-meters, but that method is not permitted due to government regulations.

Horizon also says rent has not increased in two years at Popp's. But, residents still feel pinched with the uncertain water bills every month. 

Horizon relayed the latest increase in the water is due to a leak found on March 30, which was repaired on April 3.
And because the bills went so high, Popp's park residents will be getting a $50 credit. Could individual meters return?

Never say never. But - at a cost to the Township.
Brian Hiles from the Township water Authority says the township reached out to horizon to strike a deal and re-read the meters.
When I asked horizon about this --
The answer: Going back to a meter system, would be cost prohibitive for residents.