WATER

[VON VON]

Sadly connections by others to your supply does happen.
A couple of years ago friends moving in to their new villa found a spur off their supply. The hose pipe snaked off into the distance.
Rather than have confrontation they cut it and put a lock on their outside connections.

They heard or saw nothing more.

Yes same here and it was our next door neighbour who had been seen jumping over the fence and running a hose pipe from our outside tap to his - so we now have a locked box on all our outside taps.

[joanne]

Think we will end up putting locked boxes on ours, as we need the water to be on for the irrigation as we dont have a Gardner, my Husband found an article yesterday and this problem with the water is happening in other areas, if people are refusing to pay they are being cut of.

Sharen and Michael sent me a couple of readings when they were out and it seems ok, am flying out tomorrow and poping to see the Solicitor to see if anything can be done.........Fingers crossed

[EMM]

This problem is widely reported in the local press ( Algarve Resident ).
Water theft can never be discounted, on our last visit when walking past an old orange plantation we saw truck drive up, reverse quickly off the road. Out of the back came a couple of " gypsies " with large water containers.
They attached their own hose to the irrigation filled up the containers, all as quickly as it could be done and then drove off at great speed.

Mentioning this to our neighbours they remarked that it is an all too common experience and that the best way of dealing with it is to switch off the water ( if you can ) when not in residence or attach locks and only give the key to trusted individuals.

[wolfie]

is it possible to fit locks to the taps ? Or is boxing it in the only solution .If anybody has managed to fit locks where did you get them from .I was thinking of taking the handles off the top of the tap but then it would only need someone to
bring a spare one with them . I have to say that this is not a problem I had thought of when I bought a villa !
Problem is unless you actually catch them in the act probably little can be done and it is very costly - may think about putting superglue on the handles and then sticking them there til our next visit

[joanne]

Thanks to the Cranes had several water readings last week then I read everyday this week and all seems normal, the pool man has promised he never left the Pool filling up, and my neighbours say they would have noticed that amount of water running down the Road........It is a mystery and an expensive one, think will have to put boxes on, if anyone has done it can you buy them or do you need to get a builder in?

Thanks

[barao]

I just take the handles of all my outside taps at my villa, as I also had the same problems, only the one time and that was over 12mths ago.

[Michael Crane]

I just take the handles of all my outside taps at my villa, as I also had the same problems, only the one time and that was over 12mths ago.

Surely any determined water thief would have a spare tap-top or a spanner in his back pocket? I think you've been lucky rather than secure this last 12 months.

[TCSltd]

In the UK you can buy a Bib tap with lockable handle from trs supplies (http://www.trssupplies.co.uk).

I am not sure if the plumbing in Portugal is compatible, but suspect it would be. It is available with 3/4" or 1/2" options.

[colin cheetham]

hi just been reading about large bills for water,we had the same thing happen to us in May/June we had a bill for 597.89 euros, the villa was secured and there was only two people who had keys to the gate,one friends who look after the villa and the poolman,it was found the poolman had left the hose on for four days when i asked him he said not him,i decided to put a timer on the hose connection to stop this happening again,but it did he had turned the clock to overide so again another bill,we changed the lock on the gates,removed all handles to taps,sacked the poolman and now have one who you can rely on,i would advice anyone to fit a timer they only cost 13 euros.

[joanne]

Hi Colin

We out next week where do you get the timers from? We thought it might be the Pool man but he said def not, our bill was enough to fill 7 pools, and we are on the big hill, and sure that someone would have noticed the water running down the hill? It is a real mystery, but await your reply re the timers. Thanks again.

Joanne

[colin cheetham]

Hi Joanne yes sounds like your poolman,well he will say anything but he wont pay the bill for you,i gave our poolman 2 chances but still had to get another who i could trust,timers are available an Leclerc opposite liddle in parchel,or IZI both have them and they are in the garden section they are easy to fit,but if you get stuck i will help you,we go back to uk next Tuesday,hope this solves your problem,nobody likes to see thre money go down the drain,best wishes to you all,colin.

[jonboy]

If the house is registered as offshore does it always attract a commercial rate or can you plead the case for a domestic tariff? What is the diff between the two rates?