Water Meters- will it cost more?

27col

I think that you have a bit of a cheek if you think that you can now lower your offer due to something that you should have discovered earlier in the buying process.
In any event, you will probably find that most people will say, that going over to a meter was he best thing that they ever did. As someone else has said, it tends to make you aware of how much you are using, in the same way as an electricity or a gas meter does. I was in a house the other day and the hot tap in the kitchen was left running at full bore for over ten minutes. None of the three adults in the house, seemed to be the slightest bit bothered. I do not know if they were on a meter or not. We over to a meter a couple of years ago and our water bill dropped to well under half of what it had been previously. As our original bill was based on the old rateable value, which was quite high, and we are now just a household of two. I suppose that it was inevitable.

cally1_2

Definitely cheaper with a water meter. We are a family and our bill is half of what it used to be.

dottiepeas

Thanks for your views!...well, I think it's fair to say that it would be unreasonable to change the hse offer over the water meter!...it was useful to know what you think about them though! Hopefully, it will work out cheaper than normal billing!....and I'll try not to forget my new mantra....."if it's yellow, let it mellow...if it's brown, flush it down"!! :rotfl:

markie1980

Also - if things are getting a bit tight and you need to save money you can be extra careful with your water and actually reduce your bills. If you are on a set charge that isn't an option.

dougk_2

Personally I would like it to be the case that all houses were switched to water meters, so everyone pays for what they use. I don't see why those that use / waste lots of water should be subsidised by those that don't.

I think as long as you are careful with the water you can always save by having a water meter as it makes you think what you waste water on (eg hosepipes for watering the garden and washing the car!)

ginvzt

dougk wrote: »

Personally I would like it to be the case that all houses were switched to water meters, so everyone pays for what they use. I don't see why those that use / waste lots of water should be subsidised by those that don't.

I think as long as you are careful with the water you can always save by having a water meter as it makes you think what you waste water on (eg hosepipes for watering the garden and washing the car!)

Exactly my thoughts!!!! I wish we had a meter in the house we are renting now. The last water bill I saw for the house was for 2007/2008 and it was £830!!!!! Since it is not our house, we can't request to fit a meter, and landlord is quite happy with unmetered water supply (he used to live there)... How much water do you need to use to be paying £830 per year!!!!!!! Over the last few years, not saving water at all, 2 of us and 2/3 fish tanks, showers daily, dishwasher, washing machine, gardening and paid on average £20 per month!!!

I believe in pay for what you use. Meters are the way forward - wish it was compulsory!

bride_on_a_budget

hi,
we are a family of 3 and we had a meter put in about a 18 months ago, we used to pay £63 per month water rates and now we pay around £30 per month and are always in credit.
all of us have at least one shower a a day, i use the washing machine every day and the dishwasher every day.

we were told that it would cost more for the water meter but my hubby decided to run the shower and measure the water used for a typical morning shower :
our water company said a 4 min shower uses 60 litres of water, our 4 min shower used 25 litres water, they said a dishwasher uses 120 litres water , our instruction manual states 30 litres.

our friend has 6 kids and is on water rates she pays £64 per month, she would not go onto a meter as it would her alot more with 6 kids , 2 loads washing daily, dishwasher twice a day and 8 showers/baths every day

dougk_2

bride_on_a_budget wrote: »

hi,
they said a dishwasher uses 120 litres water , our instruction manual states 30 litres.

Thats a good point, the water company tried to put us off too, but we knew from past experience that the meter would save us money.

I worked out that it was more efficient to use the dishwasher than washing by hand. our dishwasher for a standard load uses 20litres - to wash that by hand I would probably empty the bowl several times and rinse the items under running water, so the dishwasher uses less! Yes I know it uses electrictity but the cost for that is less than the cost of the oil boiler to heat the hot water for the sink!

Also in costs of time the dishwaher means i can go and do something else.

littlesos

We had a water meter in our old house and our bills on the meter were about £25 per month. When we moved house our water bills became £75 per month, as there was no meter fitted. Just had a meter fitted and our direct debit has been set to £35 so less than half. (There are four of us, the washing machine is on everyday, as is the dishwasher, baths are run for the kids probably 3 or 4 times a week, and the shower is in use everyday).

bride_on_a_budget

dougk wrote: »

Thats a good point, the water company tried to put us off too, but we knew from past experience that the meter would save us money.

I worked out that it was more efficient to use the dishwasher than washing by hand. our dishwasher for a standard load uses 20litres - to wash that by hand I would probably empty the bowl several times and rinse the items under running water, so the dishwasher uses less! Yes I know it uses electrictity but the cost for that is less than the cost of the oil boiler to heat the hot water for the sink!

Also in costs of time the dishwaher means i can go and do something else.

yes, the water company tried to do the same with us, told us how much water a shower, bath, diswasher and washing machine uses and that if we went ona meter it would cost us arounf £80 per month, we got the meter anyway and our bills are always around £30 and we are in credit by about £80 as we always over pay the bill.