Chicago woman's $233,000 water bill for vacant house sparks outrage

Eighty-three-year-old Diane Carli has been embroiled in a bitter dispute with the City of Chicago over a staggering $233,000 water bill for a vacant house that lacks plumbing. Despite her alderman's efforts to have the debt wiped out, Carli remains deeply distressed by the ordeal.

Stress mounts for elderly woman

The problem began when the city contacted Carli in 2024 about replacing the water meter at her late husband's childhood home in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. She initially resisted, but was told it was mandatory. After the new meter was installed, Carli was hit with the enormous bill.