Phuket Man Forced to Pay 16,800 Baht Water Bill

[Deli]

He lives in a houseboat now

[gmac]

Really? Who in Phuket checks their water meter, weekly? And most of the meters are unreadable.

Really? I check mine every 5 days, hardly a big deal and you don't end up with frightening bills when something goes wrong. Same goes for the electric.

[ksamuiguy]

Take a look, the meters they use also turn with air, like when the pipes are empty.

Asked the water company to check, ????.

That much water would have been noticed by some one!

[NamKangMan]

Maybe he was selling the water to water trucks.

[NamKangMan]

Really? Who in Phuket checks their water meter, weekly? And most of the meters are unreadable.

This is Phuket.

Check EVERYTHING - EVERYDAY, or be scammed.

[HerbalEd]

A weekly check of the meter may have brought the problem to light.

Do you check your water meter weekly?

[Naam]

A weekly check of the meter may have brought the problem to light.

I check my water meter at least every few days. One time had a faulty float valve and water in did not cut off when tank full. Cost me a few thousand baht before I shut off the valve and repaired. My tanks overflow into the street storm water drain so I would not notice.

i had a similar problem a few years ago, paid ~6,500 Baht because the water was wasted into a storm drain.

but what would the resident eggsburts know about a storm drain or the many other ways water might be wasted without any visible signs?

[Naam]

Really? Who in Phuket checks their water meter, weekly? And most of the meters are unreadable.

This is Phuket.

Check EVERYTHING - EVERYDAY, or be scammed.

yeah right! a broken water pipe in Phuket is a scam

[Eagleizer]

One should notice a drop in water pressure if there is a sever leak within ones premise...

I have a huge tank and a pump, like everybody in my street, and

would not notice a loss in pressure unless the pump starts failing...

[Stokakrishna]

A weekly check of the meter may have brought the problem to light.

do you check your water meter every week???

[NamKangMan]

Really? Who in Phuket checks their water meter, weekly? And most of the meters are unreadable.

This is Phuket.

Check EVERYTHING - EVERYDAY, or be scammed.

yeah right! a broken water pipe in Phuket is a scam

No, but a 549,000 litre "leaking pipe" may be.

[northernphil]

Didn't I read on here last week that there is a desperate water shortage in phuket ? Know you know why , someone is hoarding it.

[chiang mai]

The problem is that the meters here are mostly very old and unreliable. We had similar when we bought our house that had been vacant for several years and then HomeP** came along and installed a water tank and pump, the sudden surge to the meter caused the numbers to misalign and potential generate a bill in the thousands of Baht. Fortunately the water company engineer saw common sensce and the meter was replaced and the bill cancelled, but only after a bun fight with the water office front desk staff over several weeks. AND, if you want an engineer to come out and check your meter you have to pay a non-refundable deposit, if the meter turns out to be fully functional.

[Naam]

Really? Who in Phuket checks their water meter, weekly? And most of the meters are unreadable.

This is Phuket.

Check EVERYTHING - EVERYDAY, or be scammed.

yeah right! a broken water pipe in Phuket is a scam

No, but a 549,000 litre "leaking pipe" may be.

sure! it's obvious that the chap broke the pipe deliberately to scam himself out of 16,800 Baht.

next intelligent theory please

[JetsetBkk]

Really? Who in Phuket checks their water meter, weekly? And most of the meters are unreadable.

My landlord does, and I do too occasionally, especially after I got this bill several years ago:

But that was in the days when 1 million litres cost only 16,000 baht - quite a bargain!

My usual 30 cubes turned into 1,030 cubes because the meter reader man thought the first zero was a one. So he prints out the ticket, doesn't look at it or thinks 16,000 baht is normal, and carries on...

And the girl in the office says to me... "Well, maybe you've got a leak?"

Another reason why I don't pay by direct debit.

[webfact]

Phuket man receives B16,000 water bill
Darawan Naknakhon


Pornsak Sangsri could not understand why his bill was so high.

PHUKET: -- A man from Rassada had a shock when he received a water monthly bill for over B16,000. Unfortuntely, the local water authority have insisted the man pay the bill in full as it was due to a leak inside his property.

The home owner, Pornsak Sangsri, complained to the Phuket Provincial Water Authority (PWA) when he received the bill, and on Friday (June 5), a team from went to his house on Thungka-Kuandindang Rd in Rassada to investigate.

“I was surprised when I received a B16,829 water bill for May, said Mr Pornsak, “there are only two people living here and we normally pay no more than B200 a month.

“I went to the provincial water work̕s office because I thought there might be something wrong with the metre or the water supply system,” he said.

Following the inspection of the property, it was found that there was a pipe leaking under Mr Pornsak̕s house and this caused the water meter to run constantly.

Official advised Mr Pornsak to shut off the water when it was not needed and find a plumber to fix the leak as soon as possible.

Managing Director of PWA, Pisak Cholayut, told reporters that home owners are responsible for water leaks found within their properrty, and that home owners are still reponsible for paying the bill even if it is higher than normal.

However, he did state that in cases such as Mr Pornsaks it is possible to pay the bill in installments rather than as a one-time payment.

Mr Pisak also added that this type of incident is not a one-off and happens often in Phuket because the water pipes laid in housing project are not up to standard.

However, he added that it is the responsibility of the home owner to check their water meter to see if it turning at a faster rate than usual so they can know if something is wrong.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-man-receives-b16-000-water-bill-52663.php


-- Phuket News 2015-06-08

[LivinginKata]

However, he added that it is the responsibility of the home owner to check their water meter to see if it turning at a faster rate than usual so they can know if something is wrong.

Exactly correct.

[Joedoebarinio]

Every time I leave my house for more than a few hours I turn off the pump and on my way through the gate I check to see if the meter is turning ( that's the paddle wheel in the middle), the reason for this is that uPVC solvent weld pipe deteriorates with age. Ten years and it starts to suffer from stress cracking. The companies I've worked for made more money doing repairs than installing it: prorata to the value. If an underground installation is required use HDPE, it will move with strata and small bore can be formed around most changes if direction. HDPE should be available in Thailand as I believe it is extruded somewhere near Rayong.

[Naam]

Every time I leave my house for more than a few hours I turn off the pump and on my way through the gate I check to see if the meter is turning ( that's the paddle wheel in the middle), the reason for this is that uPVC solvent weld pipe deteriorates with age. Ten years and it starts to suffer from stress cracking. The companies I've worked for made more money doing repairs than installing it: prorata to the value. If an underground installation is required use HDPE, it will move with strata and small bore can be formed around most changes if direction. HDPE should be available in Thailand as I believe it is extruded somewhere near Rayong.

yawn...

if i turned off the water every time i leave my house for more than a few hours or (as presently) spending a few days in Singapore the other inhabitants wouldn't be able to have a shower and most probably take their dumps in my garden because the toilets wouldn't flush.

[NamKangMan]

@ Naam

Something is not right in this story.

A "leak" in a pipe that flows at 18,000 liters a day, and the owner doesn't notice any water around his house. It hasn't rained everyday for the month.

If the "leak" was that bad, why wasn't the drop in water presure detected?

Only a broken pipe could flow at that rate, in which there would be no water to the house, and the owner would have investigated.

Either the company, or the home owner, is not telling the truth.

[Naam]

@ Naam

Something is not right in this story.

A "leak" in a pipe that flows at 18,000 liters a day, and the owner doesn't notice any water around his house. It hasn't rained everyday for the month.

If the "leak" was that bad, why wasn't the drop in water presure detected?

Only a broken pipe could flow at that rate, in which there would be no water to the house, and the owner would have investigated.

Either the company, or the home owner, is not telling the truth.

a leak is not necessarily affecting the water pressure. many homes have (like mine) one or more ground tanks from which the home is supplied with a pump. then one realises a leak only if all the incoming water is lost.

have no idea of the soil condition in Samui but if it is not too compacted whatever water is leaked might just drain into the soil.

once we had a leak in the pipe leading from the deep-well pump to my irrigation system. we only found that out by chance when our lawn dried up because no water reached the sprinklers. the latter we did not realise because the sprinklers are programmed to open in the night and nobody could hear the 32 meter deep installed well pump running 24 hours a day and pumping 3.4m³/hour = 57 liters per minute. luckily we found the leak because a rather small area of the lawn was green.

shit happens!

[NamKangMan]

@ Naam

Something is not right in this story.

A "leak" in a pipe that flows at 18,000 liters a day, and the owner doesn't notice any water around his house. It hasn't rained everyday for the month.

If the "leak" was that bad, why wasn't the drop in water presure detected?

Only a broken pipe could flow at that rate, in which there would be no water to the house, and the owner would have investigated.

Either the company, or the home owner, is not telling the truth.

a leak is not necessarily affecting the water pressure. many homes have (like mine) one or more ground tanks from which the home is supplied with a pump. then one realises a leak only if all the incoming water is lost.

have no idea of the soil condition in Samui but if it is not too compacted whatever water is leaked might just drain into the soil.

once we had a leak in the pipe leading from the deep-well pump to my irrigation system. we only found that out by chance when our lawn dried up because no water reached the sprinklers. the latter we did not realise because the sprinklers are programmed to open in the night and nobody could hear the 32 meter deep installed well pump running 24 hours a day and pumping 3.4m³/hour = 57 liters per minute. luckily we found the leak because a rather small area of the lawn was green.

shit happens!

Get real.

An 18,000 liter a day "leak" to a house would definately be noticed, both inside the house, and outside the house, by the owner / tenant.

A "leak" like that can wash away soil around foundations.

18,000 liters / 24 hours = 750 liters an hour - every hour - for 30 days.

Edited June 9, 2015 by NamKangMan

[LivinginKata]

Get real.

An 18,000 liter a day "leak" to a house would definately be noticed, both inside the house, and outside the house, by the owner / tenant.

A "leak" like that can wash away soil around foundations.

18,000 liters / 24 hours = 750 liters an hour - every hour - for 30 days.

I do not agree, depends on the tank system. In my case the public water is controlled by a float valve. The pumping system is separate, and I would notice some water leak fault in an apartment as the pump would run frequently/all the time. And the overflow from the holding tank goes straight into the street storm drain. So, you cannot make such a 'global' statement like that. Every system has it's own conditions.

[NamKangMan]

Get real.

An 18,000 liter a day "leak" to a house would definately be noticed, both inside the house, and outside the house, by the owner / tenant.

A "leak" like that can wash away soil around foundations.

18,000 liters / 24 hours = 750 liters an hour - every hour - for 30 days.

I do not agree, depends on the tank system. In my case the public water is controlled by a float valve. The pumping system is separate, and I would notice some water leak fault in an apartment as the pump would run frequently/all the time. And the overflow from the holding tank goes straight into the street storm drain. So, you cannot make such a 'global' statement like that. Every system has it's own conditions.

I accept what you say LIK, but I can only go on the information in the OP.

"He said he immediately called technicians from the Provincial Waterworks Authority to inspect his house, and they found that water pipes were leaking underneath the building." - "leaking water pipes."

A 750 liter per hour leak has got to be noticed, and create some soil erosion.

Perhaps your explanation is what occurred, so, on that basis, those who criticized members who regularly check their water meters, should think again.

That's one well flushed, and cleaned out, storm water drain.

Edited June 9, 2015 by NamKangMan

[LivinginKata]

<snip>

Perhaps your explanation is what occurred, so, on that basis, those who criticized members who regularly check their water meters, should think again.

I've had both water and electric meter 'irregularilies'. I DO check all these public meters regularily. Maybe not every day but every few days. I am well aware that we are responsible for the presented bill, no matter how high it might be.

[Naam]

@ Naam

Something is not right in this story.

A "leak" in a pipe that flows at 18,000 liters a day, and the owner doesn't notice any water around his house. It hasn't rained everyday for the month.

If the "leak" was that bad, why wasn't the drop in water presure detected?

Only a broken pipe could flow at that rate, in which there would be no water to the house, and the owner would have investigated.

Either the company, or the home owner, is not telling the truth.

a leak is not necessarily affecting the water pressure. many homes have (like mine) one or more ground tanks from which the home is supplied with a pump. then one realises a leak only if all the incoming water is lost.

have no idea of the soil condition in Samui but if it is not too compacted whatever water is leaked might just drain into the soil.

once we had a leak in the pipe leading from the deep-well pump to my irrigation system. we only found that out by chance when our lawn dried up because no water reached the sprinklers. the latter we did not realise because the sprinklers are programmed to open in the night and nobody could hear the 32 meter deep installed well pump running 24 hours a day and pumping 3.4m³/hour = 57 liters per minute. luckily we found the leak because a rather small area of the lawn was green.

shit happens!

Get real.

An 18,000 liter a day "leak" to a house would definately be noticed, both inside the house, and outside the house, by the owner / tenant.

A "leak" like that can wash away soil around foundations.

18,000 liters / 24 hours = 750 liters an hour - every hour - for 30 days.

ok, let's get real.

-my plot is slightly more than one Rai (1,688m²)

-footprint main house 650m²

-staff house 45m²

-carport 52m²

-driveway 33m²

-pond 40m²

-"tech"building (pumps, pool filter, water treatment, etc.) 12m²

total built-up area 832m²

garden to water 856m²

watering every other night 4 zones each 40 minutes total 9,120 liters / 3,420 liters per hour without any noticeable wet spots in the watered area.

[NamKangMan]

@ Naam

Something is not right in this story.

A "leak" in a pipe that flows at 18,000 liters a day, and the owner doesn't notice any water around his house. It hasn't rained everyday for the month.

If the "leak" was that bad, why wasn't the drop in water presure detected?

Only a broken pipe could flow at that rate, in which there would be no water to the house, and the owner would have investigated.

Either the company, or the home owner, is not telling the truth.

a leak is not necessarily affecting the water pressure. many homes have (like mine) one or more ground tanks from which the home is supplied with a pump. then one realises a leak only if all the incoming water is lost.

have no idea of the soil condition in Samui but if it is not too compacted whatever water is leaked might just drain into the soil.

once we had a leak in the pipe leading from the deep-well pump to my irrigation system. we only found that out by chance when our lawn dried up because no water reached the sprinklers. the latter we did not realise because the sprinklers are programmed to open in the night and nobody could hear the 32 meter deep installed well pump running 24 hours a day and pumping 3.4m³/hour = 57 liters per minute. luckily we found the leak because a rather small area of the lawn was green.

shit happens!

Get real.

An 18,000 liter a day "leak" to a house would definately be noticed, both inside the house, and outside the house, by the owner / tenant.

A "leak" like that can wash away soil around foundations.

18,000 liters / 24 hours = 750 liters an hour - every hour - for 30 days.

ok, let's get real.

-my plot is slightly more than one Rai (1,688m²)

-footprint main house 650m²

-staff house 45m²

-carport 52m²

-driveway 33m²

-pond 40m²

-"tech"building (pumps, pool filter, water treatment, etc.) 12m²

total built-up area 832m²

garden to water 856m²

watering every other night 4 zones each 40 minutes total 9,120 liters / 3,420 liters per hour without any noticeable wet spots in the watered area.

Great.

What do you know of the guy's property in the OP????

[NamKangMan]

It wasn't a "broken pipe" - it was a "leak."

I think LIK's suggestion of what happened is the most likely.

[Wat dee]

A weekly check of the meter may have brought the problem to light.

Are You doing so?