compulsory water meter

michael748

i have just moved house and Three valleys water have dictated that I must have a water meter.

They came and installed it ( without my permission) the day I moved in.

The meter is outside the boundary in the street.

TVW maintain that they have the right to obligate me to have a meter under the water ind act.

Is it my legal right to revert back to unmtered charges ?

Rafter

Unusual act by them.

I guess they are trying to up meter adoption by putting one in every time a house changes hands.

Unless you have a large family, swimming pool or large garden you should find you are better off on a meter anyway.

R.

YorkshireBoy

We're a family of 5 and have a 3 bed detached Band D property with an additional downstairs toilet in the Yorkshire Water area.

We had the option to come off the water meter and onto rateable value calculation a few years back.

When I looked into the pro's and con's we would have been £30 a year (or 10%) worse off on rateable value calculations! Maybe they've changed the way they do 'em.

Reaper

My understanding is that they can force you to have a meter (which must be fitted free) and you can not opt to switch back.

dougk_2

I agree with Reaper.

I also think water meters represent a fair way of charging - pay for what you use. Water is a valuable resource that should not be wasted.... plus by being careful you can save money with a meter (which is the purpose of this site!).

Personally I would like to see all properties supplied with a water meter with no choice given to the owners.

I changed about 3 years ago and found by bills dropped to about 30%! (yes I saved over £200 a year).

Rafter

LOL at Dasani joke!

For those who don't remember, Dasani was Cokes new bottled water which turned out to be filtered Thames water out on the tab at a 10,000% markup!

R.

dougk_2

;D And if you did run a Dasani factory and sold enough you would be very happy with the 10,000% profit .... me thinks there are no losers! :P

divadee

When i moved house last year they forced us to have a water meter as well.

Aparantly it is law that they can force you to have a new meter if you are a new owner/occupier. And you cant change back after 12 months either.

You can change back after 12 months if you decided yourself to have a water meter but not otehrwise.

The annoying thing was after talking to a next door neighbour a while ago his best mate works on the water meter dept and could have wiped us off the system so to speak >:( so no water meter would have been fitted.

We are about the same with costs, so no worse off but scared about filling little miss divdees paddling pool in the summer to much

squarecat

My parents recently switched to a meter, and returned from the shops one afternoon to find their neighbour had kindly used my parents hose to was both the cars and his own!

jmvchapman

Hi peeps,

Check out this site below…… by entering a few details it will tell you if you would be better off on a water meter or staying on rates. We're set to save £70 a year by moving to a meter (based on two people, dishwasher, showers everyday, no bath, no sprinkler).

Just as some extra info, we are currently on rates but the underground supply is corroded so we need to get it all replaced. When putting in the new connection to the main supply, the water board insist on installing a meter - and we can't go back.

http://www.buy.co.uk/Water/details.asp?AffID=buycouk~moneysavingsexpert

(note: link originally posted on this site under the 'Articles/Utilities and Phones' section)

Joannaclaire

I'm all for pay what you use water meters.

Alas we don't have one as we are renting our flat, but are looking to buy and the minute we exchange I shall be on the phone to Thames water (or whoever supplies it) to get a meter. I am a frugal user and hate subsidising inconsiderate people who leave the tap running when cleaning their teeth, have daily baths instead of showers and use the washing machine to wash just a couple of items...

I am from Australia originally, and there have been water meters in place since as long as I can remember, as water is such a precious resouce. To be honest I am shocked at the water wastage in this country and many people's attitude to water meters.

In summer in Australia there are water restrictions for watering your garden - you can only have the sprinkers on every other day or possibly only once a week (even if it is 30-40 degrees) depending on if there was a dry winter and hence less water in the dams. I grew up having 5 minute showers or baths with about 3 inches of water in themm, no dishwasher and being taught only using the washing machine to do full loads. Also dual-flush toilet systems in new builds are mandatory.