This morning I was dispatched for a disconnect service call. I’m a service plumber, I’ve done hundreds of these for general contractors around town - usually disconnecting lavatories from angle stops, pulling commodes, putting plugs in risers etc. prepping bathrooms/kitchens for demo work, etc. all pretty basic shit really.

The call for disconnects was priority, got put at the top of the list. Even got a personal call from the owner of the service co I work for, to advise me that I would be escorted around the job site by a deputy and to mind my manners.

I arrive on site at some townhouses to find three cops, a locksmith and a property manager. The townhouses are individually owned but all utilities are common metered, meaning there are no individual bills for utilities there, the entire complex gets billed for usage which is then split up amongst the occupied units. When someone stops paying their maintenance fees/utility bills they’re given two months to make arrears, then the complex gets some sort of paperwork that allows them to enter the unit under threat of cop, and physically turn off all the stops/shutoffs/valves, then cut the handles off in such a way that those living there cannot turn the water and gas back on. Even worse, once arrears have been made they require you to call a plumber to come out and replace all the mutilated shutoffs. They even tell you they want you to flush the commode after you shut the water off to it so they cannot even have one last flush. The locksmith is there to get the plumber (me, this time) access to the unit should the people living there decide not to open up. All done with the blessing of the sheriffs office.

This is all done because the property is common metered and there is no individual meter to just call the city up and have the city come pin the meter shut.

So once I figured out what was going on, I informed the property manager that I wouldn’t be entering someone’s home and depriving them of water. I called the office, told the secretary to call my previously scheduled appointment and tell them I’m OTW. didn’t even get out of the parking lot before the owner called, told me I needed to drop off my service truck, clear out my locker, and turn in my keys.

I’m filing for unemployment though I imagine it will get denied for not completing tasks, or not performing work or some shitty nonsense. I won’t take part in denying someone a necessity to survival though so it’s alright. That townhouse will end up having its water shut off in all likelihood but it won’t be before Tuesday or Wednesday next week - coordinating deputies, a locksmith and a plumber will take a while.