Dishes have piled up. Bottled water is essential. People who live in the Bynum Woods community are trying to figure out why their water was shut-off for a day.
"Why are we the ones suffering when we've paid our bills. We're caught up with everything. We should still be able to wash our clothes, brush our teeth, take a shower," said one resident who doesn’t want to be identified.
ABC2News was at the complex when the water was turned back on, giving some relief to homeowners. Some say it's unfair that the homeowners association is now requiring residents to pay a one-time charge of $150.
But homeowner Tim Arnold says he understands why the extra money is needed.
"This is a fantasy land for people who think they can stay here and live with a 50- some-dollar-a-month association fee," said Arnold.
The property manager would not speak on camera. But Jim Conway with JC Property Services says the price of services covered in the HOA, like garbage removal, have gone up.
Also, $3,000 is missing from people who haven't paid, but he says the special assessment is needed regardless of the delinquency. Still, some don't buy the argument.
"We're struggling just like everyone else. And we just can't afford to pay for expenses that aren't our own," said the homeowner who wishes to remain anonymous.
The water was shut-off until two-thirds of the residents voted in favor of that assessment. Enough votes came in Thursday morning. The checks were cashed, and the water was restored.
Homeowners wonder why everyone was without service when there are individual meters in homes. But a spokesman for Harford County say the Department of Public Works comes out and reads one meter for the complex, which has 50 homes.
Those homes could be without basic services again if the HOA doesn't increase the dues to keep up with service payments.
There will be a vote in the coming months to increase the HOA fee to around $80 from the current $54. Right now, the bylaws say the HOA can only go up five percent every year.
