Water Meters

Up here, water and sewerage are included on the Council Tax bill, so we are paying on some notional house value back in 1990-something, no account taken of actual use. 

We would be better (cheaper) with a meter I think, as we currently pay over £800 per annum for water and sewerage.

What's a water meter ?? I've never ever seen one !! What do they look like and are they fitted inside or outside the house. What purpose do they serve ??

K 

 

..Look on the website of your local water company here in England they are very good at trying to save customers money,last year our company  visited every domestic property and gave free advise and fitted for free water saving devices to all tops and new water saving shower heads to all that were compatable (not electric) and we had the option of the meter being installed inside ,or their prefered outside on the footpathrly reading  to make the twice yearly reading easier,and installed for free in our area,if you like us are just two and go away a lot,it will pay ,we only pay £12 per month,and that includes sewerage 

Up here, water and sewerage are included on the Council Tax bill, so we are paying on some notional house value back in 1990-something, no account taken of actual use. 

We would be better (cheaper) with a meter I think, as we currently pay over £800 per annum for water and sewerage.

Write your comments here...Scotish Water allow water meters -http://www.scottishwater.co.uk/you-and-your-home/your-home/thinking-about-a-water-meter/schedule-of-rates-meter-charges-1617 however you have to pay approx £125 survey fee plus installation. If I was you I'd go for it based on my similar price saving as yours.  

According to money saving expert.  If you live in a house with more bedrooms than people then a water meter makes sense.  Time will tell.

As it happens, I had this conversation with a friend a few weeks back. He was telling me about the savings that they were making, after having a meter installed. I countered this, actually said that I wouldn't have a meter, on principle. Voluntary at the moment, but like the 'serve yourself' tills in shops, quite likely to become compulsory if enough take them up.

The principle being that large families on low incomes with a compulsorily installed water meter might take water savings to extremes. Not flushing toilets, not washing themselves or their clothes often enough. A risk to health, and unpleasant to live near to.

It is a bit daft that we use potable water on the garden, flushing toilets and washing cars, but realistically what other option is there, when talking about piped domestic water.

For our household, I doubt that a meter would make much difference, giving our annual Severn Trent bill of £318 per annum. Even if it did, we are talking trivial amounts of cash.

There has been a water leak in a nearby street for several months now. Water coming from an underground stop tap, straight into gutter and back down drain. ST must be aware, I saw their chaps going around with their 'listening sticks' the other week, probably looking for other jobs to get done in one go.

Thank you for the information, I will certainly make enquiries.

K

Just for information, we pay about £400 per year for water and sewerage.  Just the two of us and a dog and a moderate garden but that is watered mainly from collected rainwater - but my wife does seem to have a fetish for washing clothes and the machine is on virtually every day which may account for the relatively high bills.

Last year, I re-lined and re-filled my pond in the garden - which has a capacity of about 25,000 litres.  I was expecting a massive bill for the quarter during which I re-filled it and rang Yorkshire Water to try and get a reduction in sewerage charges for that amount (bearing in mind sewerage charges are based on 95% of  water used).  Imagine my surprise when they wouldn't believe me because our water useage had been no more than for that quarter in previous years.  What I hadn't allowed for was that last year was the first year we had returned to caravanning and had been away for about 6 of those weeks!  I am already seeing a significant reduction in water charges this year - but of course that is more than compensated for by the cost of  site fees!

As it happens, I had this conversation with a friend a few weeks back. He was telling me about the savings that they were making, after having a meter installed. I countered this, actually said that I wouldn't have a meter, on principle. Voluntary at the moment, but like the 'serve yourself' tills in shops, quite likely to become compulsory if enough take them up.

The principle being that large families on low incomes with a compulsorily installed water meter might take water savings to extremes. Not flushing toilets, not washing themselves or their clothes often enough. A risk to health, and unpleasant to live near to.

It is a bit daft that we use potable water on the garden, flushing toilets and washing cars, but realistically what other option is there, when talking about piped domestic water.

For our household, I doubt that a meter would make much difference, giving our annual Severn Trent bill of £318 per annum. Even if it did, we are talking trivial amounts of cash.

There has been a water leak in a nearby street for several months now. Water coming from an underground stop tap, straight into gutter and back down drain. ST must be aware, I saw their chaps going around with their 'listening sticks' the other week, probably looking for other jobs to get done in one go.

Write your comments here...Does the £380 include mains water AND treatment? 

..Look on the website of your local water company here in England they are very good at trying to save customers money,last year our company  visited every domestic property and gave free advise and fitted for free water saving devices to all tops and new water saving shower heads to all that were compatable (not electric) and we had the option of the meter being installed inside ,or their prefered outside on the footpathrly reading  to make the twice yearly reading easier,and installed for free in our area,if you like us are just two and go away a lot,it will pay ,we only pay £12 per month,and that includes sewerage 

I am not surprised that their preferred location is outside on the footpath. If the same rules apply as Bristol Water, beyond the meter you are responsible for leaks. Fortunately after some argument, BW accepted it was their pipe work joint to the meter leaking and their responsibility. If it had been in the 4 metres of pipe between the meter and the house we would have had to sort / finance the repair.

Up here, water and sewerage are included on the Council Tax bill, so we are paying on some notional house value back in 1990-something, no account taken of actual use. 

We would be better (cheaper) with a meter I think, as we currently pay over £800 per annum for water and sewerage.

Write your comments here...Scotish Water allow water meters -http://www.scottishwater.co.uk/you-and-your-home/your-home/thinking-about-a-water-meter/schedule-of-rates-meter-charges-1617 however you have to pay approx £125 survey fee plus installation. If I was you I'd go for it based on my similar price saving as yours.  

Just had a look at Scottish Water's charging structure, and based on average use for 2 people our saving could be about £75 per annum if we were home normally, obviously more if we are away say 25-30% of the time.

The small saving is due to the relatively high fixed charges, which are based on your CT band.

Even before we start using any water there would be....

Fixed water charge......£147.08

Fixed waste charge.....£151.04

Property Drainage.......£91.08

Roads drainage..........£91.08

So £480.28.  PLUS the per cubic metre charge.

How come some of you pay only £12-£33  per month?    What does that include?