I have lived in this house for 25 years and my neighbor has owned the house next to me for 15(?) years. It is a winter home and in the summer it mostly sits empty. We have had conversations in the past and are acquainted with one another. Things happen and I knew I had had well problems in the past at some point I had asked if something were to happen, would he mind if I hooked to his water to help me through the spot (I am on a well and he has county water). He had said that it would be no problem. His daughter has been living there since July (I just found out as I saw her out and said hello and talked a bit a couple days ago. We talked and she said her dad and mom would be down in Dec). Fast forward 8? - 10? years and my well tip took a krap saturday morning. I went over and knocked throughout the day and got no answer. Sat eve, I decided the offer dad had made was still in effect, I left a note on the door, and I hooked to their water to tie me over until Mon when the well people could get me a new sub pump. Well, daughter showed up Sun eve and I saw her pull up and I went out and let her know what I had done. I told her I would pay for what I used and I had talked to dad in the past about an emergency situation. She made me feel like I had hooked up and was mooching free water from them. I told her I would pay $50 (water bill would be high at $100 a month). She said she would call her dad and questioned how we would split the water bill. I have never asked for anything from them in the past. It was not the reaction I expected from a neighbor.
My questions are these..
Would you have considered the permission granted by the owner still in effect?
Would you have hooked to the neighbors water?
Do you think I was wrong to hook up to the neighbors water?
Had the situation been reversed, I would have told them it was no problem and that I was glad to help them out. My wife and I are a little surprised at the reaction the daughter had.
Hopefully, the pump will be replaced tomorrow and I can unhook without an interruption in water supply.
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