Sewer Service Refunds

Thank you for explaining the issues regarding the sewer service charge refunds to be paid by the City of Los Angeles (Metro/Valley, Aug. 19). You are correct in stating the difficulties to reach the thousands of individuals eligible for this refund. The city’s staff has to manually review thousands of maps covering over 6,500 miles of sewers and compare them with water customer lists from the Department of Water and Power which contains over 500,000 names and addresses.

So far, $5 million has been authorized by the City Council for fiscal year 1991-92. In addition, another $5 million may be required for 1992-93. City staff has begun to implement an active program to identify and notify sewer service charge payers who received no sewage service. When we identify properties which we believe are not served and locate the related service charge payers, we send them a claim form. Those who believe they qualify and have already contacted us will also receive claim forms and assistance. For additional outreach, we will insert notices in English and Spanish with the DWP water bills, beginning in mid-September. We will also place advertisements in area newspapers.

We hope that the first refund checks will be mailed in November to people who have already applied for refunds. The city has hired a six-person temporary staff and installed a toll-free telephone line to answer any questions from the public.

RALPH H. KENNEDY

Chief Deputy Engineer, Los Angeles