COCHRANE— A Cochrane resident's unexpectedly costly water bill prompted a visit to Town Council to appeal the charges on Monday (March 8).
Ernest Brucker appeared before council to ask for a reduction in his water consumption charges for January 2020 and February 2020. He asked the months to be averaged with his normal water consumption rates.
Typically, Brucker's bills run around 6.96 cubic metres— December saw a charge of 47.9 cubic metres and January saw a charge of 47.16 cubic metres.
Brucker said when he received the higher water bill for December, he chalked it up for having company over during the holidays which had resulted in the high consumption. He realized this was not the case when he received another bill in February.
Brucker searched the house for external leakage but was unable to locate a source. He contacted a plumber who discovered the excessive water usage was the result of a faulty water softener.
The water softener was hard plumbed into the plumbing system of his house, Brucker said, which in turn is connected to the wastewater system of the home.
"There's no sign of external leakage— You don't hear it, you don't see it, the water doesn't run through walls or ceilings. That water was going down the drain," Brucker said. "It was this faulty water softener that I was unable to maintain because I didn't know anything was wrong with it, there was no outside evidence something had gone wrong."
Brucker noted the issue was completely hidden and only a plumber who had experienced leaky water softeners was able to find it.
"It's not something that the normal homeowner can, unless you go down and take a picture of your water metre every night, you're not going to know that this is going on," Brucker said.
Once the problem was recognized it was quickly fixed in March 2020, he said. His water consumption for March was down to 7.42 cubic metres.
He compared the issue to if the Town experienced a water main leak— "You can't see it, you can't prevent it. It happens, it gets repaired, but unfortunately, some water gets away."
Brucker spoke with someone in utilities when the repair was done and was told under the circumstances his bill could be adjusted because it was something he had no control over.
In May he was told the bill was under review by utilities but still saw no changes.
In the fall returned he visited the Cochrane RancheHouse and was told the bill could not be reviewed and he would instead have to appear before council to appeal the cost.
Councillor Alex Reed said he sympathized with Brucker's situation, but felt the cost remained on the homeowner.
Reed shared a story detailing how he went away for a couple of weeks over the summer several years ago. While he was away some neighbourhood youth turned on his garden hose and let it run unchecked as a prank.
Reed said because the incident occurred on his property and not on the Town's right of way it was his responsibility.
"I ended up having to pay that full bill myself," Reed "While it was painful, I had the greenest yard in the neighbourhood at that particular time."
Coun. Marni Fedeyko said she appreciated Reed's concern that events can happen externally that affect water consumption, but she recognized the bravery Brucker showed by coming forward to share this information publicly to contest the bill at a council meeting.
"I have zero problem going towards averaging out your bills," Fedeyko said. "You're not asking for something for free. I think it's just equitable service of what we need to provide."
Coun. Patrick Wilson noted council heard a similar water consumption case in January. At the time he recommended the delegation be charged at the Tier One level for any excess water usage. At the January 11 meeting council directed Town administration to work on a policy to address utility rate complaints in the future.
"I would push a similar solution again," Wilson said.
Council accepted the presentation as information and will provide a decision on Brucker's bill at a later council meeting.
