High Water Bill & Leaks

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Sudden Increase in Your Bill

According to the American Water Works Association, the daily average water consumption for a family of four people is 1 cubic metre (m3), 219.97 gallons or 1,000 litres.

A sudden rise in the amount of your bill may be due to a number of reasons:

  • Plumbing leaks in toilets and/or fixtures
  • An increase in the number of people living or working in your dwelling
  • A dry, hot summer, resulting in higher water use
  • An increase in the number of days in the billing period
  • Renovations, recent landscaping, or filling a swimming pool
  • Consecutive estimated readings followed by an actual reading.
    • If your water was estimated and your consumption for previous billing periods was higher than estimated, you may see an increase in your current water bill.

Find out more information on how to check for leaks.

During Colder Months

Higher-than-normal water consumption during the winter months can be due to several reasons including:

  • you provided a temporary water supply to a neighbour due to frozen pipes
  • water service was thawed by a City crew, and a letter from the City to take steps to prevent the water service from freezing again was issued.

The above City initiated water services will appear as an adjusted billing item on the water portion of the utility bill.

Refer to other water-related help and advice.

If you have experienced a high water bill it may be a result of uncontrollable or unexplained consumption or other types of water leaks. Property owners are charged for the amount of water that flows through pipes and is recorded by the water meter.

Apply

If you suspect you have received a high water bill due to an unexplained or an uncontrollable water consumption increase, you may apply for an adjustment.

Unexplained Water Consumption Increase

Adjustments may be available for unexplained water consumption increases provided that:

  • the water consumption increase is three times greater compared to the historical daily average
  • the water meter has been tested and found to be free from defects and no other City activity could have reasonably caused the increase
  • the customer has not received an adjustment before
  • the customer has resided at the property for at least one year before the consumption increase and the request for a reduction
  • the property is not tenanted
  • the water consumption increase cannot reasonably be attributed to an act or omission of the owner or occupant of the property, or a leak or other plumbing defect
  • the customer provides written verification from a plumbing contractor that the private plumbing system for the property is free from leaks or other defects that may affect water consumption, and that upon careful inspection of the system there are no other factors that may explain the increased consumption

City personnel may be required to inspect the property.

    Uncontrollable Water Consumption Increase

    Adjustments may be available for uncontrollable water consumption increases provided that:

    • the water consumption increase is three times greater compared to the historical daily average and the cause of the water increase may be known but is not in the customer’s control, due to a leak, or another defect in the private plumbing system
    • the customer has not received an adjustment before
    • the customer has resided at the property for at least one year before the consumption increase and the request for a reduction
    • the property is not tenanted
    • payment would cause the customer undue financial hardship
    • the household income is less than $57,112.00

    City personnel may be required to inspect the property.

      How to Apply

      Send supporting documents by mail or fax:

      City of Toronto
      Revenue Services
      Utility Billing
      5100 Yonge St.,
      Toronto, ON M2N 5V7

      Fax: 416-696-3605 “ATTN: Utility Billing” (refer to Tips on Faxing)

      Reference:

      Section 849-31, 849-26 Basis for Metered Billing, portions F, G, H, and I.

      (https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/municode/1184_849.pdf)

      As a courtesy, a notification letter may be sent to the property owner to advise of an unusual increase in water consumption. Review causes your potential increases in water and check for leaks.

      Call Water Investigation at 416-395-0177 with any questions regarding this letter.

      Home Dialysis Water Rebate Program

      If you have increased water consumption resulting from home dialysis treatments, you may qualify for the Home Dialysis Water Rebate Program.

      Water Rebate Program

      If you are a low-income senior or a low-income person living with disabilities and consume less than 400 cubic metres (m³) of water each year, you may be eligible for a water rebate.

      Solid Waste Rebate Program

      If you are a low-income senior or a low-income person living with disabilities and use a garbage bin or single-family residential bag-only customer; you may qualify to receive a rebate on the solid waste portion of your utility bill.

      Learn more about qualifying to receive a solid waste rebate.

      Connection or disconnection to the City’s water supply can be requested for:

      • renovations
      • new constructions
      • upgrading a shared service (“Y” connection that provides water to two properties) to a single connection.

      Learn more about requesting a water/sewer service connection or disconnection.