Advice - High metered water bill from Southern Water

galvanizersbaby

I've just recieved my 6 monthly water bill from Southern water (had a meter put in last year as was informed it would be cheaper.)
Anyway it's
£280 which works out 46 a month which seems like an awful lot of money.
I have a 2 bed flat and I have 2 small children who are with me 4 days of the week but I use the washing machine approx 3 times a week, don't have a dishwasher, powershower or hose or anything.

Southern Water say the bill is correct but my last bill was nothing like this high

Any thoughts?!

Magentasue

We are a family of six (adults, teens and 20something) and we moved in Feb. When we got here and discovered a water meter, my heart sank.

We don't have a shower, so it's baths all the way and I run the dishwasher and washing machine at least once a day. Small garden so not much used there - and I haven't washed the car since we got here!

We have been reading the meter regularly since we got here, weekly at first and now monthly. We use between 2-4 units a week and pay £35 a month which just about covers it. About half what we paid in water rates.

Presumably, you can change back to unmetered?

halight

Hi You can help to cut down by putting a brick in your loo tank. So when you flush your loo you will be useing less water

Magentasue

halight wrote: »

Hi You can help to cut down by putting a brick in your loo tank. So when you flush your loo you will be useing less water

But not if it's dual flush.

Incisor

galvanizersbaby wrote: »

... £280 which works out 46 a month which seems like an awful lot of money.
I have a 2 bed flat and I have 2 small children who are with me 4 days of the week but I use the washing machine approx 3 times a week, don't have a dishwasher, powershower or hose or anything.

Southern Water say the bill is correct but my last bill was nothing like this high

Any thoughts?!

Yes. Make sure that the meter only feeds your flat.

galvanizersbaby

Magentasue wrote: »

We are a family of six (adults, teens and 20something) and we moved in Feb. When we got here and discovered a water meter, my heart sank.

We don't have a shower, so it's baths all the way and I run the dishwasher and washing machine at least once a day. Small garden so not much used there - and I haven't washed the car since we got here!

We have been reading the meter regularly since we got here, weekly at first and now monthly. We use between 2-4 units a week and pay £35 a month which just about covers it. About half what we paid in water rates.

Presumably, you can change back to unmetered?

I had the meter installed in May 2007 so I think I'm just out of time to change back sadly! :mad:
In your household there is 6 and I only have myself and two little ones.
Think I'm going to have to look at ways to save water and check that the water is just feeding my flat as suggested by another poster!

galvanizersbaby

Magentasue wrote: »

But not if it's dual flush.

How do I tell if it's dual flush?!

galvanizersbaby

Incisor wrote: »

Yes. Make sure that the meter only feeds your flat.

I think I will give this a go too - do I just turn off the water to my flat and then check the meter's not still going round?!
Sorry - I'm not very savvy on these things!

deanos

galvanizersbaby wrote: »

I think I will give this a go too - do I just turn off the water to my flat and then check the meter's not still going round?!
Sorry - I'm not very savvy on these things!

Nope, turn on a cold water tap and see it your meter is spinning

You turn it off if you want to check for leaks

galvanizersbaby

deanos wrote: »

Nope, turn on a cold water tap and see it your meter is spinning

You turn it off if you want to check for leaks

But if I turn on my cold water tap my meter should be spinning shouldn't it as it's my water and my meter?

deanos

Yes thats correct , turn on your cold water tap and look at the meter that you think is yours it should be spinning .

To check for a leak, turn off your internal stop tap and if the meter is spinning you have a leak