ELK RIDGE, Utah County — City leaders may clamp down on residents who are late paying their water bill.

Although the City Council didn't make a final decision at its Tuesday meeting, it is considering shutting off water for delinquent users who are more than 30 days late. The city is owed about $6,000 in delinquent water payments, a city clerk said.

Meanwhile, the council said it would clarify the code in the town's newsletter and then improve enforcement as it faces another tough financial year.

Water users are considered delinquent the month after their water was billed. If a bill is not paid 15 days after it's due, the city could charge a late fee before shutting off the water. Hardship arrangements could be made, Mayor Dennis Dunn said. However, it's the same names that show up as delinquent month after month, he said.

Some bills are as much as 90 days old. The recipients of those bills may have until January to get caught up, Dunn said.

— Rodger L. Hardy