Residents flooded with hefty water bills

Many Torontonians have been getting massive, surprise water bills — or no bills at all — because of faulty meter components, a widespread problem that will take years to fix, according to the city.

- BEN COHEN

At a news conference Thursday, Lou Di Gironimo, head of Toronto Water, said the transmission units on about 141,000 water meters — about a third currently in use — in the city have failed, meaning the amount of water residents are using is not being relayed back to the city for billing purposes.

As a result, many residents in Toronto are being saddled with large catch-up bills after not being charged for several months.