Baltimore woman slapped with $228K water bill after inheriting her old man's house

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What should have been a fresh start after losing her father has become a financial nightmare for one Baltimore woman. Kristina Moore says when she inherited her late father's Northeast Baltimore home, she also inherited a water bill exceeding $200,000 -- a debt she insists belongs to the entire neighborhood, not just her family.

"When my father passed, I thought the house would be the easy part, but it clearly wasn't," Moore said.

Moore says she had no idea the debt existed until April, when she found a notice from the city taped to the front door, warning that water service could be shut off within 45 days due to the unpaid balance.

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According to Moore, the problem dates back decades. The home is part of the Springwood Estates community, a neighborhood of 37 townhomes built in the 1970s. Moore says the development is served by a single master water meter, but the account for that meter is tied to her property's address. She says that has left her home carrying responsibility for the neighborhood's water usage.

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FOX45 contacted the president of the Springwood Estates Homeowners Association. Although she declined an on-camera interview, HOA President Regina Johnson confirmed the association is responsible for collecting money from residents and paying the community's water bill. However, she said she could not explain how the balance grew to more than $200,000 and declined to answer additional questions.

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