Water Bills questions and comment

System

Felixmum wrote: »

Does anybody know if I can claim 7 years overpayment of water rates of the money coming out of my benefits. Been charged WAY over the odds as a single Tennant and it's only just been adjusted to single occupancy. At least 7 years wrong rate. Many thanks

Hi - welcome to the forum. Did you ask? Details of discounts etc are usually sent out each year with a statement of account.

Cardew

Alan_Wednesday wrote: »

Have you heard the one about the one bed flat paying £10 per week to a third party (Council) when a four bed house pays £14 per week ?

Council pockets a stealth tax of £300,000 per year and water companies collect 4 times more under RV compared to metered.

Ofwat, CCWater and Watrs think this is ok ???

Can you explain what you mean please.

How do the Council gain anything from water charges?

If not metered, properties pay charges based on their Rateable Value(RV). The RV system of local taxes of private dwellings was abolished in April 1990 for everything but water charges.

The RV was probably assessed in 1973(for existing houses) and neither the Council or Water companies have any mechanism to change the RV.

The water company make no extra(or less) profit regardless of the water charges they collect.

Hannah.etc

A few months ago I had a water meter fitted on our flat. This information we were given at the time was that we had to have this done as we were in a high demand/low supply area and the water meter was mandatory. Since the meter has been fitted I have not chosen to use the metered billing amount (there is a 2 year adjustment period where you can opt not to take the metered charges and just pay the usual bill - £140.29 for 6 months / £35.97 a month). The estimated charges on the water meter that are now coming through as a comparison are ridiculously high - £329.87 for 6 months and it says that we (a couple in a 1.5 bedroom flat) use more water than a 6 person household - 781 litres WATER A DAY(!!) This can't physically be possible. We had the bathroom and the kitchen refitted (2 years ago) so we have new shower-heads/taps/cistern so the water usage is not massive, we don't have baths everyday and we don't use the washing machine everyday. I don't understand how this can be accurate and how can I go about disputing this before I have to pay these astronomical charges!

Cardew

Hannah.etc wrote: »

A few months ago I had a water meter fitted on our flat. This information we were given at the time was that we had to have this done as we were in a high demand/low supply area and the water meter was mandatory. Since the meter has been fitted I have not chosen to use the metered billing amount (there is a 2 year adjustment period where you can opt not to take the metered charges and just pay the usual bill - £140.29 for 6 months / £35.97 a month). The estimated charges on the water meter that are now coming through as a comparison are ridiculously high - £329.87 for 6 months and it says that we (a couple in a 1.5 bedroom flat) use more water than a 6 person household - 781 litres WATER A DAY(!!) This can't physically be possible. We had the bathroom and the kitchen refitted (2 years ago) so we have new shower-heads/taps/cistern so the water usage is not massive, we don't have baths everyday and we don't use the washing machine everyday. I don't understand how this can be accurate and how can I go about disputing this before I have to pay these astronomical charges!

Welcome to the forum

Many blocks of flats(particularly older flats and conversions) have 'complicated' internal water pipes and it is possible that your meter is recording usage in other flats.

This should be easy to check by noting a meter reading and not using any water for a longish period and see if the reading has changed.

You can also turn off the stopc0ck and see if neighbouring flats have all or some of their supply cut off.

Hannah.etc

Hi there -

We live in a first floor maisonette - there are only two flats in the terraced house and they were purpose-built in 1901 (quite unusual).
I would like to take a look at the water meter but it's fitted outside and the access hatch is on the pavement - I can't seem to work out how to lift the hatch lid up - do I need a special tool?
Thanks again for the reply

Cardew

It is very possible that your meter is supplying the other flat or other properties in the terrace. A 'common' water supply to several properties was used in those days.

Normally a 'special tool' is not required to access the meter. If it is the water company should supply one.

joshardy

Good afternoon everyone. We've just bought our first home after living in Military accommodation for the past 17 years (water charges are included in the rent). Having done some research on affordability etc, it seemed the 'average' water bill was approx £45. Imagine our surprise when Wessex Water set up our D/D for £90 per month! There are 6 people in the house and to be fair, the washing machine does about 7 - 8 cycles a week as does the dishwasher. We only use the shower (and I do keep a tight rein on the 16 years old twins) but I was surprised at how much there were asking for. Is this a 'normal' amount to pay?

JJ_Egan

There is no normal or average .
Price is dependent upon area and supplier .

Cardew

joshardy wrote: »

Good afternoon everyone. We've just bought our first home after living in Military accommodation for the past 17 years (water charges are included in the rent). Having done some research on affordability etc, it seemed the 'average' water bill was approx £45. Imagine our surprise when Wessex Water set up our D/D for £90 per month! There are 6 people in the house and to be fair, the washing machine does about 7 - 8 cycles a week as does the dishwasher. We only use the shower (and I do keep a tight rein on the 16 years old twins) but I was surprised at how much there were asking for. Is this a 'normal' amount to pay?

I am assuming you do have a meter?

Your charges are here:

https://www.wessexwater.co.uk/charges/

The average consumption in UK is approx 55 cubic metres per person per year. So for the 6 of you 330 cubic metres pa

The charges for 330 cubic metres would be £1,326 + £78 in standing charges = £1,404pa or £117 a month.

Wessex Water are one of the more expensive areas in UK but the South West pay far more.

Flushing toilets, long showers, cleaning teeth with tap running, watering garden etc are high consumption items. You need to 'educate' the family on cutting down on water consumption.

Welcome to Civie Street!

matelodave

If you've got a meter then start reading it at least weekly to see how much water you are using. Then you can see whether your water saving measures are working. When you monitor it then you can do something about your consumption.

Learn to take shorter showers - six of you at 5 minutes each is at least 30 minutes of showering a day. With a high flow shower head that could be a lot of water.

So get a flow restrictor fitted on all the taps and the shower to help reduce consumption..

Dont let water run down the sink when washing or rinsing stuff, including your hands, and especially when cleaning your teeth.

Make sure that the washing machine & dishwasher are fully loaded, they use the same amount of water and energy as when they are only half full.