By Chris Chandler
WSB Radio

(WSB Radio) -- A metro Atlanta business owner says a botched fire hydrant test burst his water pipe, resulting in a bill more than $10,000.

Ray Hill, who owns a small business office park in Union City, tells Channel 2 Action News when he returned from a month-long vacation, he found not only low water pressure, but an $11,000 water bill.  Ray, a former volunteer firefighter, blames it on negligent pressure testing at fire hydrants near his office park.

"Shutting it off too fast is what causes that shock wave called water hammer, can break eight inch pipes.  A little PVC is peanuts to it," said Hill.

Union City buys its water from Atlanta.  Atlanta Watershed Management credited him  wholesale cost of water lost from the broken pipe.  Union City however, would still not adjust the $4,000 add-on fee.  When Hill refused to pay it, one of his biggest tenants left the complex.

Hill has since agreed to pay the bill in installments, but isn't happy about it since he says his typical water bill is about $40 a month.

"I feel like it's coercion and extortion," said Hill.