A staggering BD600 water bill allegedly received by a Bahraini widow in Hamad Town has sparked debate among councillors, who are calling for an urgent field inspection with the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) to determine the cause.
The unusually high monthly bill reportedly came despite an EWA inspection finding no water leak at her residence.
Identified as Umm Ali, the 58-year-old retired teacher lives with her three sons, two of whom are married, and her two grandchildren. She is now desperately seeking answers after her water bill rose to around BD120 in August before soaring to BD605.660 in September.
The latest bill puts the total amount due, including electricity and other charges, at BD679.120.
The case was raised at the Northern Municipal Council yesterday by Western Hamad Town councillor and services and public utilities committee chairman Abdulla Al Qobaisi, along with three other councillors.
Umm Ali, who retired from teaching in 2019, lost her husband three years ago. He left behind accumulated electricity and water arrears of around BD10,000, which the family has since reduced to about BD4,000 through payments.
The utility account is reportedly registered in her eldest son’s name.
Councillors said she noticed a sharp rise in her water bill in recent months and contacted EWA. According to a municipal memorandum, an inspection found no leak at the property and she was reportedly told that the bill would be amended.
Mr Al Qobaisi said Umm Ali was also advised to replace the household pipes, which she did earlier this month at a cost of BD180.
“She replaced the pipes as instructed and yet, the bill was BD600 for water alone without any noticeable leakage again this month,” he added.
The councillor said the family was now caught between an unexplained bill and the threat of disconnection.
“She is willing to pay the BD600 to avoid the cut, but that’s unfair,” he said.
Mr Al Qobaisi said he had already informed Parliament about the case but was told that, at this stage, an investigation fell within the municipal council’s remit.
Questioning how a household of this size could have generated such a bill, he said: “The normal water usage should be BD15, not BD600, which is that of the whole residential block.”
The council has now called for a field inspection with EWA to examine the meter, connections, pipes and billing records, and determine whether the sharp increase resulted from actual consumption or a technical or administrative error.
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