A Dubai resident, David Richard Spours, received a shocking utility bill of Dh20,179 from the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) upon returning from his vacation. The bill was linked to an astonishing water leak in his garden during his summer break in the UK. The British expat shared that the hefty amount was not a mistake and was attributed to the water leak incident.
The breakdown of the bill, according to Spours, showed Dh1,383.17 for electricity, Dh1,804.42 for Dubai Municipality fees, and a whopping Dh16,992.38 for water during the month of August.
Spours explained that the water leak was caused by a faulty float valve in his water tank, leading to continuous overflowing and leakage for an entire month. The bill indicated that he had consumed a staggering 319,200 gallons of water.
Upon raising the issue with Dewa, Spours was informed that the smart meters are programmed to identify continuous consumption lasting a minimum of 48 hours. Despite the longer duration, an alert was not generated for him due to the water leak. Dewa emphasized that the responsibility to address internal water leaks rests with the customer.
While Spours argued that the water leak caused by the faulty valve should be the responsibility of the landlord or developer, Dewa maintained that its “unusual consumption” alert is a courtesy and doesn’t guarantee detection of all leaks.
In a similar incident, another resident from Damac Hills 2 shared receiving a Dewa bill of Dh18,000. Dewa advises residents to monitor their water usage, especially during hot weather, and suggests turning off all water-related appliances to check for leaks.
Dewa also introduced an advanced smart facility in July 2023 that uses IoT technology to remotely monitor and control water pipeline leaks. Sensors collect data on pressure, flow, and temperature, with machine learning helping to detect leaks accurately.
Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant about their water consumption and seek professional assistance to avoid unexpected high bills due to leaks.
