What should you do if your water bill goes up unexpectedly?

Verified 25 May 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Did you receive an abnormally high water bill? You can challenge this invoice if you meet certain conditions. We're taking stock of where we're going.

A water bill is considered to have increased abnormally high when your water consumption has at least twice the average volume consumed over the last 3 years before the invoice is sent.

If you have been in your home for less than 3 years, your water service is based on a reference consumption. This reference consumption takes into account the average volume consumed in your geographical area and for dwellings similar to yours (size, number of people living in the dwelling...).

FYI  

The increase in your water bill can come from a leak from your sanitary facilities (flush, cumulus, boiler). It is therefore recommended to check your facilities and water meter.

When such an increase occurs, your water service has an obligation to inform you (usually by mail) at the latest when sending your water bill.

If you have not received any information (either because your consumption has not increased enough or because your water service is not working properly), you do not have to pay the share of water consumption that is more than double your average consumption. The m's3 more than twice your average consumption will not be charged.

It depends on whether or not you have detected a water leak.

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You detected a water leak

It is necessary to contact a plumber as soon as possible to repairing the water leak.

This is because if you present to your water service a certificate indicating that a plumber fixed the leak, you will not have to pay the share of water consumption exceeding twice your average consumption. The m's3 more than twice your average consumption will not be charged.

You must send this certificate by registered mail with notice of receipt within 1 month from the notification of your water service indicating the increase of your consumption.

You can use a template letter to write your mail:

Request a cap on your water bill due to a water leak

You didn't detect anything

You can ask your water service to check the functioning of your water meter:

Ask to check your water meter

You must send your verification request by registered mail with notice of receipt within 1 month from the notification of your water service showing you the increase in your consumption.

Your water service will check your water meter to determine the cause of this increase. He must give you his answer within 1 month of the completion of this audit.

If a malfunction of your water meter is observed, you will not have to pay the share of consumption that is more than twice your average consumption. The m's3 more than twice your average consumption will not be charged.

On the other hand, if no malfunction is observed, you will have to pay your entire bill (including surplus). You will also have to pay the costs of checking the functioning of your meter (these costs vary from one municipality to another).

If you encounter a dispute with your water service, you can appeal to the water ombudsman.

Depending on where you live, it is possible to to receive aid to help you pay your water bills.

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