Getting a bill that is unexpectedly high can be very stressful. Your water bill might go up for various reasons, and some of the most common ones are:

  • More people than usual staying in your home
  • New appliances that use more water, such as a power shower or garden sprinkler
  • Your previous bill being based on estimates rather than a meter reading
  • Leaks on pipes, toilets, taps or other appliances
  • Home renovations that use more water

To check if you have a leak, you can follow these steps:

  1. Turn off all taps and appliances that use water
  2. Take a picture or write down the reading on your water meter
  3. Wait a few hours and take another meter reading
  4. If the second reading is higher than the first and you’re certain no water has been used, you may have a leak
  5. If you can’t carry out these checks or would like to discuss it further, you should contact your water company for help.