Water meters - pros and cons?

They will tell you how much (cubic metres) they have calculated you will use and the fixed charges. So all you need do is log your usage, to see how it compares to their estimated usage - the one they are basing your charge on. That should give you a good indication of whether they are charging too much or too little and the likely adjustment.

My original unmetered bill was immediately cut in a little less than two, then reduced by a little more after my first years metered use. The initial year's over charge was paid back into my direct debit account. My own figures indicate I am still overpaying, compared to my use this second year, so there will be another refund due at the year end.

I keep a weekly spreadsheet of my gas and electric use, so it was not difficult to add water consumption figures and its cost to the sheets. My sheet shows me exactly how much each utility costs me week by week, plus a total weekly and annual costing.

I have made absolutely no drastic efforts to reduce consumption, just quite minor things, such as converting toilets to dual flush and not deliberately leaving taps running.

Agreeing to a meter install has saved me hundreds of pounds so far, so no complaints at all from me.

My 1 person consumption estimate turned out eventually to be a little on the high side, none the less it did show a good saving so I jumped in. Once in they still charged a bit over for the first year, based on another lower estimate. My actual figure was much less and now, two years on, they base the charge on actual consumption figures.

They were quick to refund any over payments back to the DD account.

I asked for a water meter to be installed in my 1 bed flat, in 2011. I am saving around £60 a year.

I (we two) are still saving lots of money on our bill. Our latest spending on average around £5 per week, which works out at around £260 per year. Our last pre-meter water bill was around £560 per year, but probably more by now.



There are no house rules in place, other than not to waste water, both toilets duel-flush, use a water-butt when possible for garden, never allow taps to drip unfixed.

The calculator could be far off the mark.Much better to know what your actual consumption is, then calculate it from that. Might it be worth your while buying a meter of your own and fitting it, so you have a much better idea?


I suggest this, without knowing if suitable meters can even be bought by the public.