Philadelphia water department The battery in my water meter went bad and when they changed it they charged me $1900. extra on my bill and said I have to pay it or have my water shut off. Philadelphia Pennsylvania

I recently had my water pipes replaced, and they also replaced my water meter in my home. A few months later I received a adjustment on my bill adding on $1900. to pay. I called and after a 251 minute wait they told me that the battery on my meter went bad and they are estimating my water usage and my bill. I argued that I didn't know the battery was bad and they said it didn't matter that I have to pay or they will shut my water off. How do they estimate it in the first place? I told the lady she can't take a guess based on the past few months due to my layoff. No one was barely home before my layoff and now I'm home everyday all day. She said that did not matter and would not change the amount.

How do I fight this? I'm on unemployment and it's bad enough the pipes went bad and they charged me $4000. to replace now they're adding on extra. This is outragious. Please Help