An Ontario woman is shocked to be left with more than $ 6,200 in water bills due to a leaky toilet.
Daniel Stronach helps his sister Georgia Stronach, who lives in Aurora, because he has health problems. He manages her home ownership issues and utility bills.
They both received a big surprise in January when they received a $ 3,864 water bill that was connected to a running toilet.
“We didn’t have a recognizable knowledge that something was wrong,” said Daniel Stronach, who added, “I think it may have been a bathroom in the basement and the basement is not really used.”
But they were even more surprised when the next water bill rose to $ 6,227 after they thought the problem was solved.
In mid-December, they were warned by the Aurora Water Department that there appeared to be a potential leak in the home, but by the time they found out and fixed the toilet problem, it had been almost three weeks and they were in a new billing cycle.
When Daniel Stronach called to complain on behalf of his sister, he was told he had to pay.
“We have to pay the bill anyway, because if you don’t pay it, they will seize your house,” said Daniel Stronach.
When CTV News Toronto contacted the city of Aurora, Communications Manager Carly Smith said in a statement, “Water and wastewater bills are issued quarterly and are based on water consumed as recorded on your water meter. The city contacted the outlet, registered in December, to warn residents of a potential water leak.
“Water customers are responsible for all water used, as registered by their water meter. This includes water consumed by a resident and caused by a leak. The city is in contact with the resident to offer payment plan options as well as information on other support programs, such as the tax deferral program for the elderly, Smith said.
Aurora pays its water bills every three months, and Daniel Stronach believes there should be a mechanism to warn customers if they use much more water than usual.
“It’s almost like a credit card. If you have quirks, they pick you up right away and call you. Those situations where there’s a three-month delay. It’s crazy,” said Daniel Stronach.
Aurora has tips on her website on how to check for leaks in the toilet, such as adding food coloring to the tank and waiting to see if the color leaks into the bowl.
While Daniel Stronach hoped he could help his sister Georgia reduce his water bill by $ 6,227, the best thing employees can do is allow her to pay monthly installments for the next 12 to 15 months.
Apart from leaking toilets, leaking faucets are the second most common cause of high water bills. If you have a bathroom in a basement that you rarely use, you may want to cut off the water supply to it, which can prevent leaks and unexpected large bills.
Add Comment