Rural water system alleges billing, metering fiasco in lawsuit

Customers were supposed to be able to monitor water usage, but system didn't work

One of the oldest rural water systems in South Dakota wanted to modernize.

Now it’s in court.

The WEB Water Development Association filed a lawsuit against Mueller Systems alleging Mueller’s software package never worked as promised. In a response filed Thursday, Mueller denies that it breached its contract with WEB, alleging that there were warranty exclusions for software and equipment that were “damaged by improper environment, abuse, misuse, accident, negligence, act of God, excessive operating conditions, or unauthorized attachments or modifications.”

“Mueller did not breach any contract with WEB, and, therefore, plaintiff’s breach of contract claims fail as a matter of law,” Mueller’s response says.

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