Water company must warn clients on possible leaks
Customers whose water bill has gone through the roof could be paying out because of leaky pipes.
Householders who discover their water consumption has soared because of an unknown leak have some protection against higher bills with a law obliging water companies to give an alert and to cap costs.
With 1,300billion litres of water lost each year in France through mains and pipework leaks, a domestic leak may seem a drop in the ocean – but in October a retired couple in Vaulx-en-Velin, near Lyon, received a bill for €10,341.
That was for one month and was for 3.8m litres of water, the same as an Olympic pool. After talks the water company cut the bill to €105 and the fault blamed on a meter problem.
Water companies are responsible for all underground pipework up to the water meter with the householder being responsible for pipework into and inside the house.
Since 2013 the Loi Warsmann imposes a duty on companies to inform users where their usage is abnormally high –
i.e twice the normal monthly use over the past three years.
The company must contact the user as quickly as possible and if the user calls a plumber to trace and repair the problem within a month, the company cannot send a bill for more than twice the normal bill,
in what is called l’écrêtement.
If the company refuses to do so users should contact the mediator at mediation-eau.fr
The Loi Warsmann does not apply if the fault is in interior plumbing for heating, domestic appliances or bathroom as users should spot and repair such leaks quickly. If no leak is found the user should ask the company to check its meter.
Repair costs are generally covered by household all-risks insurance but beware letters from water companies offering specific leak insurance if you are already covered.
