If you receive an abnormally high water bill, caused by a pipe leak after the meter, you can request the local water authority reduce the bill.

Indeed, water authorities have an obligation to inform consumers of abnormal consumption. This must occur no later than the date on which the bill is sent.

The rules are set out in Article L2224-12-4 of the 'Code général des collectivités territoriales'.

‘Abnormal consumption’ is defined as at least twice the average volume consumed over the last 3 years. If a consumer has not lived in the property for 3 years, the water authority must use a figure based on the average consumption of comparable properties in the locality.

Following notification of high consumption, the consumer has one month to repair the leak and to apply for a reduction in their bill.

The application must be accompanied by the invoice from a registered plumber, which identifies the cause of the leak and the repair carried out.

Alternatively, within one month of receipt of the bill a subscriber can request the water authority to verify the meter, following which 'the subscriber is then liable for payment of the share of consumption exceeding twice the average consumption only from the date of notification by the drinking water service, and after investigation, that this increase is not attributable to a malfunction of the meter.'

A leak that is the result of a defective household appliance is not taken into account, although in law it is a grey area. The law merely refers to a 'pipeline'.

If the application is successful, the bill will be capped at twice your usual consumption.

If the water authority does not inform you of the abnormal consumption, you are not obliged to pay more than double your average consumption.