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NATCHEZ — A representative from the state’s Public Service Commission and a representative from Great River Utility are expected to be at the next meeting of the Adams County Board of Supervisors on Monday, Oct. 21.

The supervisors will meet that day at 9 a.m. at the Board of Supervisors headquarters, 314 State St., Natchez.

A group of residents in the Morgantown area attended the supervisors’ meeting on Sept. 16 to seek help with what they said are outrageously high water and sewage bills for a contaminated private water system that does not work properly.

The residents live in an estimated 300-home subdivision, all of which is on a private water system established when the subdivision was built.

That private water system has been sold several times and is now owned by Great River, a subsidiary of Central States Water Resources.

Denise Smith, who represented her neighbors at the meeting, said Great River has increased water rates for residents several times.

“We are now paying $107.99 a month, and they told us they are going up again,” Morgantown resident Denise Smith said.

Though Great River owns the water system, it contracts with the City of Natchez Water Works to provide water and sewer for the residents.

Supervisors told the residents they have no control over Great River or the private water system.

“The Public Service Commission must approve these rate increases,” said Kevin Wilson, District 2 supervisor and board president. “I can’t for the life of me understand how they are getting these rate increases approved.

Smith said she spoke with someone in the Public Service Commission office who told her the rate increases have been denied, but Great River is increasing rates anyway.

“Everywhere Great River has gone, there have been problems, from sewage in the water to everything else,” Wilson said. “I’m appalled at how bad it is.”

Smith said the water delivered to the residents is contaminated, the water pressure is problematic, and the infrastructure is old, poor, and deteriorating. She said neighborhood residents have to purchase water to cook with and drink because they can’t drink the water from Great River.

“Nothing has been done to improve the system like they said they were going to do,” she said. “Many of the residents are older and live on a fixed income and can’t afford this. Some have nothing left after paying their water bill.”

“At the end of the day, you’ve got a middle person — Great River — in there getting paid, and the middle person has to be gone,” said District 4 Supervisor Ricky Gray.

Wilson said other systems have offered to buy the Great River water system in Morgantown, but Great River has refused to sell.