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Water could be shut off again at West Palm Beach condo

Posted at 8:57 PM, Aug 03, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-03 23:30:16-04

In a matter of hours, residents at the Green Terrace Condos in West Palm Beach could face the harsh reality of no water.

The Home Owners Association for the building is refusing to pay the bill, leaving families with no way to brush their teeth, take showers, or was their clothes.

This is the second time in less than a month, residents received a notice their water will be shut off. They're now fed up and frustrated.

Aura Cortez and Angela Ciriello at Green Terrace didn't expect it to get to this point. They and 82 other residents received a notice their water would be shut off in just a matter of hours.

"Water is essential," says Cortez.

Moving is a top priority now, which is stressful for Cortez.

"Can't just go into a place like that. You have to wait here where we have no water. I don't know how long it's going to take."

The city turned off the water last month forcing a Palm Beach County judge to order the HOA arrange to pay the water bill. The association was short on its payment this week.

Court documents show board president Sandra Matus doesn't have enough money although the association could vote to use the $291,000 in its reserves.

Matus' attorney says "There is no money. The parties who brought the suit refuse to pay past due assessments of over $33,000."

"From our standpoint I think it's just a lot of games being played here and we're not happy about it," says City Administrator Jeff Green

Green says the city is now working with residents to find alternative housing.

"Some of them have reached out to us."

Meanwhile Cortez and Ciriello say they don't want to move, just a quick and easy solution."

"They just need to pay the water bill," says Cortez.

A court hearing is scheduled for Thursday morning on the matter.