PORTLAND, Ore. -- A delinquent landlord paid an outstanding bill worth almost $10,000 this week after the Portland Water Bureau ended its no shutoff policy.

City water officials said last week that too many landlords and property managers were taking advantage of the no shutoff policy and pocketing their tenants' water money for themselves.

Under the new policy, delinquent account holders are given 14 days notice to pay their bills or they will have the water shut off at their property. As a result, some renters may have their water service shut off even though they're paying their bill on time.

So far, the city said the crackdown is working. The owner of a 12-unit condominium complex in Portland paid $9,868 via a cashier's check this week after receiving the 14-day notice from the water bureau.

Officials said the process took less than one week.