Tim Worstall

The Greatest Water Bill Ever

This really does have to be the very greatest water bill ever.

It’s a real one (no, seriously, I’ve taken the name and address out but I’ve not added anything in), from the local water utility in Silves, in southern Portugal. The total amount owed is €56. And he’s been cut off for non-payment of that sum. (He’s in the middle of building work, it’s not that he’s a cheapskate or something.)   

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Now the thing is they’re also wanting to charge him € 9,999,999.00 (yes, that’s one euro under one billion, or about $1.35 billion, yes, billion dollars) to reconnect him to the municipal water system.

So, the question that had us slightly scratching our heads in the pub last night. Is it worth him getting reconnected?

Or maybe just bathe in, flush with and drink nothing but vintage champagne for the rest of his life?

In

2 responses

  1. Surreptitious Evil Avatar
    Surreptitious Evil

    Drinking champagne, of course, and even flushing I can cope with. Washing with would be rather sticky, so clearly a time for Perrier. I’m pretty sure you would need some still mineral water for the shower, however.
    S-E

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  2. skh.pcola Avatar
    skh.pcola

    That’s just a tricky ploy that all public utilities use to boost the bottom line. They throw spurious charges into the mix, hope the customer just pays the bill and never questions the charges, then chuckle all the way to the bank. They might be a couple of magnitudes above reasonable expectations for consumer complacency on this bill, though. 🙂

    Reply

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