Water usage/theft

Hi Guys

I have just received a bill for 413.00 euro's for my 2 bed apt in DV from Hidralia (water) we are in Block 3, it appears that someone has been using my water from the terrace, our fault in some respects as we didn't turn the water off when we left in Sept 13, this bill is for the 4th quarter 2013, we were not alerted to the the cost and actually had the water cut off due to non payment, we were unaware as the rejected DD by my bank Cajamar was not listed on my statement. I have now had to pay the bill to get reconnected. This water useage appears to be on an industrial scale and the water company assure me they have double checked the meter and it is functioning correctly, could this be the painters connecting their pressure washer? they were paintning our blocks along the front in Q4 I have asked AEA and they insist it was not the painters as they have access to the community water but i can't think of any other way this kind of volume of water could have been used. Has any one else had a similar expeience/cost or am i just the unlucky one ? In any event if you don't live in DV and just holiday make sure you turn your water off at the very least. I am in DV next week and plan to visit AEA to discuss with them the water charge can you let me know if you have had a similar experience as this would help my case for claiming the cost and maybe yours.

Regards

Keith and Niki

Maybe the toilet is not working properly and sometimes let water flows for days or months if someone is not pushing again upper device.

I dont think someone theft your water from terrace.

Hope it helps

I think what Luis says is a possibility - I have experienced the same thing.  If the button is not pressed properly or it doesn't release properly the water continues to run  into the toilet, but not so much that you would necessarily hear it immediately.  

I have had the same problem with both of the toilets in our apartment.  We have had to have new components fitted as the toilet was continually running and not shutting off. You could hardly hear it but quite a steady flow.

Steve

Hi Guys

Thanks for coming back to me with your thoughts/idea's I don't think the toilet is running but i will double check, my bill is normally around 30/40 euro's a quarter unless we are out there, and the apartment has been used once in the first quarter when the bill was 29 euro's for the quarter so i don't think there is a problem in the apartment or it would of shown in Q1. In addition to the bill for Q4 (413 euros) we had a broken hose connector we found in February and thought nothing of it we just purchased a new one, ours was getting old any way but my wife remembers in August and September when we there that the painters were using terrace water to fill their buckets and assumed they had broken ours, so we know they have definately been using residents water, i am guessing they connected to ours not really thinking of the implications of cost, i don't know maybe it was just an easy way of doing things, anyway i was hoping that someone had had a similar experience (in the nicest possible way) to add weight to my argument with AEA but it appears not, they have already asked the painters and they have denied all knowledge ! No surprise.

Looks like an expensive end to 2013 but who knows they may put their hands up and do the decent thing!

Regards

Keith and Niki

 PS I can't think of any other way this amount of water could of been used.

If the painters have been using residents water then it wouldnt seem unreasonable to me for AEA to reimburse you out of the community funds and to expect AEA to sort this out directly with the contractors.  I'd definately make this request  to AEA.

Steve

Thanks for your support Steve

I have been to see AEA and they have no interest in taking this matter further they have said that the painters have been using community water and my loss must be due to other means ! i can't think of what else that would be for such a large ammount of water ?  The office manager said she would email a reply but to date nothing has appeared this was three weeks ago, to add insult to injury i have just looked at my last years statement and i am paying approx £160 per month Sterling for the privilage of having AEA look after my property/development, not happy !

Keith and Niki

We I always turn off the electricity when I leave for the UK.

Based on the comments below it seems sensible to also turn off the water too.  

Its there a water mains stop cock inside the apartment?  Does anyone know where it is situated.

The water main tap is outside the apartment - a small 'cupboard' situated in the hallway outside the two apartments on each floor.  Inside there are two taps, one for each apartment.

Just a word of warning though, you cant assume that thge one on the left services the apartment on the left.  Sometimes they are crossed.

Steve

That's correct, Steve - anyone should make sure that the one they have turned off is the one for their apartment (obviously, by just trying the water after turning the tap off!!).

This is not related to water - but electricity!  I arrived at my apartment earlier this week to find the painters using my electricity!  They had run the cable down from the top of the building (next door portal) to my terrace!  I immediately unplugged the cable and threw it back over to them telling them what to do!!

I have reported this theft to AEA and they have assured me that they will contact the company and make sure this doesn't happen again - but what makes me think that this may not stop them????

Just be aware - they appear to be working on block 10 at the moment.

That's shocking Jan.  We always turn off our water and electricity when we leave too.  I think the painters do use individuals water on the terraces too.  It looked like that was what they were doing when they were painting the blocks by the pool.  Our water tap on the landing is crossed.  We have out a piece of masking tape with details of our app number to label ours because we found it turned on and off in error a couple of times.