Atlanta (CNN) -- Imagine paying as much for water as you do for your mortgage. 

Residents throughout Atlanta are outraged by hundreds, even thousands of dollars in monthly spikes in their water bills, and have questioned the legitimacy of the charges for years. Now, they're demanding answers. 

"I thought we were sinking in a hole of water," said Debbi Scarborough. "It scared me to death. I thought we had a major leak when I got the bill." 

Over two months last summer, her family's monthly water bill, shot up to $1,805 In July and then $1,084 in August, leaving a balance due of more than $3,000. She said in the past her bill has averaged $200 to $250. 

"I'm not paying a $3,000 bill. And for those three months, we were pretty much out of town most of the time and there's no leaks," she said, showing CNN a copy of her plumber's report. 

The city installed a device on her meter to track daily usage. In the meantime, Scarborough's bill remains unpaid while she disputes the charges. 

She is not alone. 

While similar complaints about huge water bill spikes have popped up in Cleveland, Ohio; Charlotte, North Carolina; Tampa, Florida; and Brockton, Massachusetts; it appears that the issue has lasted the longest in Atlanta. 

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It's led to a class-action lawsuit, countless meetings with city officials and continuing complaints from fed-up residents. 

Thousands of residents who have seen unusual spikes have appealed their high water bills. Just last year, the city issued credits totaling $466,368 to customers.  QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. What has ubpset Debbi Scarborough?
2. Why is Debbi Scarborough angry?
3. What is the source of Debbi Scarborough's anger?
Q2:
1. What was the average of Debbi Scarborough's old water bills?
2. How much did Debbi Scarborough's water bill used to be?
3. What used to be a normal amount for a water bill, according to Debbi Scarborough?
Q3:
1. How much is Debbi Scarborough paying per month for water currently?
2. What is the current amount of Debbi Scarborough's water bills?
3. How much is Debbi Scarborough currently being charged for water per month?
Q4:
1. Does Debbi Scarborough plan on paying her water bills?
2. Is Debbi Scarborough going to pay the full amount on her utility bill?
3. Is Debbi Scarborough ok with paying her water bill?
Q5:
1. Why is Debbi Scarborough refusing to pay her water bill?
2. Why won't Debbi Scarborough pay her water bill?
3. What makes Debbi Scarborough reticent to pay her water bill?
Q6:
1. What did Atlanta do to Debbi Scarborough's water meter?
2. What did Debbi Scarborough's city do to her water meter?
3. What was done to Debbi Scarborough's water meter by the city of Atlanta?
Q7:
1. Is Debbi Scarborough alone in her anger over water bills?
2. Is Debbi Scarborough the only person to get upset about a water bill?
3. Is Debbi Scarborough the only one who's angry about her bills?
Q8:
1. Where besides Atlanta are people mad about their bills?
2. What other cities have had complaints about water bill spikes, outside Atlanta?
3. Where outside of Atlanta have residents complained about spikes in their water bills?
Q9:
1. What are Americans doing about spikes in their water bills?
2. What has inter city raises in water bill prices led to?
3. What is being done as a result of water bill spikes in multiple cities?
Q10:
1. How much in credits has the city of Atlanta sent out?
2. What amount of money has Atlanta had to issue back to residents?
3. How much has the city of Atlanta credited back to its residents?
