High Water Bills Lanzarote | 8 Common Causes

Why Is My Water Bill So High?

Opening an unexpectedly high water bill is stressful. In Lanzarote, where water is precious and expensive, a spike in your bill demands immediate investigation.

After 10+ years helping Lanzarote homeowners, we've identified the 8 most common causes of high water bills, and what you can do about each one.

1. Hidden Water Leaks (Most Common)

The #1 cause of high water bills is a leak you can't see:

Underground pipe leaks (between meter and house)
Leaks behind walls (bathroom and kitchen pipes)
Under-floor leaks (especially in properties with underfloor heating)
Swimming pool leaks (extremely common in Lanzarote)

How Much Can a Leak Cost?

| Leak Size | Litres Lost/Day | Monthly Cost (approx) | |-----------|-----------------|----------------------| | Dripping tap | 20L | €5 | | Running toilet | 400L | €100 | | 1mm pipe crack | 1,000L | €250 | | Burst pipe | 5,000L+ | €1,000+ |

A single hidden leak can double or triple your bill.

The Meter Test

Turn off all water outlets
Check your meter's leak indicator (small dial)
If it's moving, you have a leak

Learn more about water meter behaviour →

2. Faulty Aljibe Float Valve

In Lanzarote, most homes use an aljibe (underground water tank) with a float valve. When this valve fails:

Water continuously flows into the tank
Excess overflows into the ground (invisibly)
Your meter runs constantly
Your bill skyrockets

Signs of a Faulty Float Valve

Water meter spinning even when house is empty
Aljibe always full but meter still running
Wet ground near aljibe location
Pump not needed as often (tank stays full)

This is often misdiagnosed as a pipe leak. Understand your aljibe system →

3. Leaking or Running Toilets

Toilets are silent water wasters:

Flapper valve failure (most common)
Continuous trickle into bowl
Phantom flushes (toilet refilling on its own)
Fill valve stuck open

The Toilet Dye Test

Add food colouring to the cistern
Wait 10 minutes without flushing
If colour appears in the bowl, the flapper is leaking

A running toilet wastes 10,000-50,000 litres per month.

4. Swimming Pool Leaks

Lanzarote has thousands of private pools, and pool leaks are extremely common:

Shell cracks from ground movement
Plumbing joint failures
Light niche seal failures
Skimmer connection leaks

Pool Leak Signs

Refilling more than once a week
Chemical consumption increasing
Wet spots around pool area
Pump losing prime or showing air bubbles

Learn how to check for pool leaks →

5. Irrigation System Leaks

Garden irrigation systems often leak unnoticed:

Broken sprinkler heads (buried by plants)
Cracked drip lines (degraded by sun)
Failed connections at control valves
Main line leaks underground

Warning Signs

Brown patches alternating with very green areas
Soggy spots in lawn when not irrigating
Pressure drop in irrigation zones
Controller showing shorter run times than scheduled

6. Appliance Leaks

Household appliances can leak slowly:

Washing machines (inlet hose connections)
Dishwashers (drain connections)
Water heaters (pressure relief valves)
Refrigerator ice makers (water line)

These often leak into hidden spaces, under floors or behind units.

7. Dripping Taps and Showers

Easy to ignore but costly over time:

A tap dripping once per second = 20 litres per day
Mixer showers often drip from cartridge failure
Outside taps frequently forgotten

Quick Fix

Replace tap washers or cartridges, usually a €5-20 repair that can save €50+ per year.

8. Meter Reading Errors or Billing Issues

Sometimes the problem isn't your water usage:

Estimated bills that overcharge
Meter reading mistakes
Faulty water meter (rare but possible)
Rate changes you weren't notified about

What to Do

Compare your meter reading with the bill
Request a meter accuracy test if suspicious
Check for rate changes on Canal Gestión website

How to Investigate High Bills

Step 1: Check Your Meter

Record the reading, use no water for 2 hours, check again. Any change = leak.

Step 2: Inspect Visible Areas

Check all taps, toilets, and visible pipes
Look under sinks and behind appliances
Inspect outdoor taps and irrigation

Step 3: Check Your Pool (If Applicable)

Perform the bucket test to rule out pool leaks.

Step 4: Consider Your Aljibe

If you have an aljibe system, the float valve is a prime suspect.

Step 5: Get Professional Detection

If you can't find the cause, you need specialist equipment:

Acoustic detection for pipe leaks
Thermal imaging for hidden water paths
Pressure testing for plumbing systems

Prevention Tips

Regular Maintenance

Annually: Check aljibe float valve
Monthly: Walk around property looking for wet spots
Weekly: Check water meter reading

Monitor Your Bills

Keep a record of monthly usage, you'll spot anomalies quickly.

Fix Small Issues Promptly

Dripping taps and running toilets only get worse.

How Much Does Water Cost in Lanzarote?

Understanding the cost structure helps put a high bill in context. Water in Lanzarote is among the most expensive in Spain because all of it passes through desalination plants before reaching the distribution network. The price per cubic metre varies by municipality and consumption band, but most residential customers pay between two and four euros per cubic metre including the standing charge and tax. A property with a hidden leak losing 5,000 litres per month can easily generate an extra 20 to 40 euros per month in water charges on top of normal usage.

For holiday rental properties with pools, a pool pipe leak or faulty aljibe float valve can run for weeks between visits, generating bills in the hundreds of euros before anyone notices. This is why routine meter checks between rental seasons are a sensible precaution for absentee owners.

Why High Water Bills in Lanzarote Are Often Underestimated

One peculiarity of the Lanzarote water system is the aljibe. Many properties receive water from the mains supply into an underground storage tank, from which it is pumped into the property. When the aljibe is present, the mains water meter only moves when the aljibe is being filled, which may happen infrequently. This means that a leak inside the property after the aljibe, in the pressurised domestic system, will not show on the mains meter at all. The water is simply drawn down from the aljibe tank without triggering the meter. In these cases, high bills may not be immediately apparent, but the aljibe will empty faster than expected and the pump will run more frequently.

Frequently Asked Questions: High Water Bills Lanzarote

My bill has doubled but I have not changed my usage. What is most likely?

A doubling of your water bill without a change in usage almost always indicates a hidden leak or a faulty float valve. The most common culprits in Lanzarote are hidden pipe leaks, aljibe float valve failure causing the mains to run continuously, or a swimming pool leak if the pool was recently opened for the season.

How do I know if my water meter is accurate?

Request a meter check from your water company (INALSA or the municipal operator in your area). They will test the meter against a standard flow. Meter errors are less common than leaks as a cause of high bills, but they do occur, particularly in older meters.

Can a dripping tap really cause a significantly high bill?

A single dripping tap wastes around 15 to 20 litres per day, which amounts to roughly 5,000 to 6,000 litres per year. At Lanzarote water rates, this costs around 10 to 20 euros per year, which is noticeable but not dramatic. Multiple dripping taps or a running toilet combined can create a more significant impact.

My neighbour has a similar property but a much lower water bill. Is there something wrong?

Significantly higher bills than comparable neighbouring properties are a reliable indicator of a problem. The difference could be a hidden leak, a more frequent pool top-up cycle, or a faulty appliance. Comparing usage over multiple billing periods rather than a single bill gives a more reliable picture.

How quickly can a professional leak detection survey identify the cause of a high bill?

In most cases, a professional leak survey can confirm the presence or absence of a hidden leak within two to three hours. Where a leak is confirmed, the same visit typically locates it precisely. We provide a written report at the end of the survey that documents the findings and serves as supporting evidence for insurance claims.

Free Leak Confirmation

If you suspect a hidden leak is causing high bills, get certainty with our Free Leak Confirmation Test.

Get your free leak confirmation →

Contact Canary Detect for professional leak detection across Lanzarote. We serve Arrecife, Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca, Costa Teguise, Yaiza, and all areas of the island.

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