Former renter's bill leaves son without water

To the editor:

My son lives in a small town in Southeast Missouri, and his water service has been turned off. The man in charge of reading of the meter stated that a renter before my son owed a bill and that my son had to pay that bill before the water could be turned back on.

My son is raising his 4-year-old by himself and has a hard time as it is. He has been carrying water from a neighboring water supply. They go to his dad's to bathe and do laundry.

It isn't right that my son has to pay someone else's bill. Soon the pipes will freeze and burst if there's no water flow.

CARLA TRANKLER

Marble Hill, Mo.