I've been living in this apartment complex for several years without issues with payment of the water until this month. Sewer and water are included in the rent. We got a disconnect notice that water service had not been paid. What recourse do I have on the management of the apartment complex?

Firstly, since the management takes care of the water bill if you pay your rent there should not be any problem, but of course you already know this. What I would do is go to the manager's office, sit and have a talk about this; of course, I would also try to keep it professional and not rude or yelling, try to keep it civil; after all, you don't want to get on the bad side of your management while living there because if he is after you it will be no fun. I don't have any knowledge of the "laws", but if it IS included with rent just do what I said first and just ask the manager about it. If things don't go well from there I would seek more help here or from a lawyer.

I'm not very knowledgeable of real estate law being a new landlord myself but I was a renter for years. I feel you should write a letter to management and make a copy for yourself. Your letter should state the date the water was turned off (if it is actually disconnected) and your understanding that management is responsible for the water payment. Ask if the problem with the water company will be resolved and keep this letter for your records and make a note when the water is turned back on. You should do this every time it happens so that if you want to withhold rent if this becomes an action that makes it to court, you will have all of your proof regarding the situation. Keep every letter that the management office sends to you also. It's a safeguard and I would keep everything that the water company sends to the building tenants.

The city or water department turns off the water because they have not been paid, and they will turn it off.

So you will have to file suit for damages if they don't. You need to see if this is the same with all the tennants and join together. Also you may want to get an attorney ( all tennants together) and set up a escrow account to deposit all rents into, pending outcome of this.