CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) — A Clearwater resident contacted 8 On Your Side asking for help after he received a water bill for almost $2,000.

Travis Dumican said he’s been renting a house on Tioga Avenue for 11 months now.  He said he couldn’t believe last month’s water bill.

“I was a little shocked. Usually pay about $90 a month on average and I got a whopping bill for $1900,” said Dumican.

The amount left him clueless.

“I’m like, where did this water come from?”

He called the landlord to check out the unit.

“He came out, checked out the property with a plumber, everything checked out, that I don’t have a leak,” he said.

Then he called the water company.

“The first thing they asked me, ‘do I have a lock on my hose?’ I told them no, they said that ‘well the problem with that, anyone can use your hose,’” he said.

City of Clearwater spokeswoman, Joelle Castelli said company reps tried to reach Dumican when they noticed the spike. She said they have a system installed that will alert them when someone has a high read.

“If there is a leak in the system, or if there is someone stealing, or if there is a theft of water to get that addressed right away,” said Castelli.

Dumican can’t confirm if anyone in the neighborhood was using his hose and the city can’t pinpoint what happened.

Either way, reps said the bill isn’t going anywhere.

“He’s to put a lock on his spigot, bring us the documentation he did that and we will work with him for refund of the sewer fees and create a payment plan,” said Castelli.

Not a solution Dumican wants to hear.

“So, because I didn’t lock the hose, I’m still responsible for the water bill,” said Dumican. “I’m a single father. I have a daughter. It’s hard enough and to pay the water company that kind of money for something I don’t even understand is an issue.”WHAT OTHERS ARE CLICKING ON RIGHT NOW

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