TORONTO -- A Canadian snowbird who spends her winters in Florida said she was shocked to discover out the water beak for her Toronto home was $5,500 while she was away.

Carol Burbridge has a home in Toronto but spends her winters at her condo in Florida.

She hired someone to inspect her home twice a week while she'due south away and that's why she was surprised when she got the massive nib.

"I'm a senior denizen on a pension and I was shocked," Burbridge told CTV News Toronto. "They said information technology was probably a running toilet and I said 'I don't know I wasn't there.'"

The City of Toronto sent Burbridge a water beak of $v,488 last leap when she returned from the U.S.

She has been in a dispute for the by year about paying information technology.

In Toronto, water bills are sent out every four months so if yous accept a leaky faucet or toilet your pecker could add up fast, which is why h2o fixtures should be checked advisedly.

Burbridge said in Florida if she had a water leak causing an extremely high bill, she would have been notified within days and non months.

"In Florida if your water beak looks wobbly, they call you right away. I received no phone call and all they did was take the money out of my bank business relationship," Burbridge said.

The City of Toronto told CTV News Toronto that of the 520,000 utility accounts information technology has each year, about 300 experience higher than normal water consumption.

"In some cases, where a home has faulty fixtures such as a leaking toilet or faucet, h2o consumption tin can increase by as much as 24 times what is normal," the Director of Revenue Services Casey Brendon said.

"Property owners are responsible for maintaining their holding, and for ensuring their fixtures, faucets and appliances are kept in a state of good repair to avoid these types of leaks."

The urban center said it can't talk over the specifics of Burbridge'southward bill due to privacy reasons.

"Where customers have experienced a higher than normal beak, they may contact the urban center and may be asked to provide documentation to verify their income, provide proof of occupancy and provide proof that any leaks have been repaired. If customers meet the criteria contained within the bylaw(s), utility bills may be adjusted to reflect normal consumption levels," Brendon said.

Burbridge said she plans to apply to have the beak reduced.

"I am disputing this nib. I really am because I don't mind paying for water I utilize. I always pay my bills on time, just I don't like the style they took that much money out of my depository financial institution account," Burbridge said.

Residents are advised to keep an eye on your water meter and to check taps for leaks.

Water

On the Urban center of Toronto website, you lot can log on to 'My Water Toronto' to track your usage. There is also data on how to deport a dye test on your toilet to check for leaks.

Using automatic payment plans to pay your utility bills each month can seem convenient still, you all the same need to monitor your bills closely to make sure there isn't a trouble including a leak.