MSE News: Call for water meters in most homes

Former_MSE_Guy

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

"Introducing water meters is the most effective way of making people use less water, according to a report published today ..."

Read the full story:
Call for water meters in most homes

Cardew

All water companies have the power to make a meter compulsory on change of occupant, however not many companies enforce this regulation.

It is a complete nonsense to base water charges on the RV - a system based on the notional rent a property could get as long ago as 1973.

pompeyrich

Cardew wrote: »

It is a complete nonsense to base water charges on the RV - a system based on the notional rent a property could get as long ago as 1973.

Doesn't really matter when the RV was calculated as this is only the starting point of the calculation.

bonzer

I used an online calculator and reckoned 2 people in a home was about the break even point with my water rates charges. If you've got a family you're better off without the meter.

I'm not totally convinced there's a real need to save water in the UK. There is no water shortage, only a shortage of investment in water distribution infrastructure by the water companies, which mostly amounts to shifting it to the South East. In many parts of the country there's more water than you can possibly use.

Begize

I would quite happily have a water meter. I actually work for a water utility, but on the non-water side of the business and made enquiries about getting one.

Apparently it was all good news - I'm on a shared supply and it's lead pipes which means there is a "special" budget and they were willing to pay to install one for me. I could even keep it for a year and if I wasn't happy my bills had reduced, go back to the old assessed volume charge (there's no such thing as RV anymore, certainly not in our area anyway).

The downside? Well, even though they would very generously pay for the meter and it's installation and the connection to the network, I had to get the pipe laid from my stop tap to the edge of the property where the main was. I also had to use an approved contractor which meant the cost was around £700 plus VAT!

As the News of The World used to say, I made my excuses and left.

Barneysmom

When we got ours, 4 years ago, the water rates we were paying was about £37 a month. Now we pay less than £16 a month.
We've learned to be careful, got a water butt, use the shower more than the bath, don't wash the car as often.
It's the little things that add up.
There's only 2 of us though, not sure you'd save if it was a family of four - especially teenagers and the amount of time they spend in the shower?

roddydogs

Then what happens when large poor families then cant pay the bill?

roddydogs

roddydogs wrote: »

Then what happens when large poor families then cant pay the bill?

Biggest saving is getting a new "Dual Flush" Loo

Barneysmom

Yes, and we've got a hippo in our loo.......

Begize

roddydogs wrote: »

Then what happens when large poor families then cant pay the bill?

Nothing - the law says you can't have your water cut off for non payment. Obviously this is good for those in genuine hardship but unfortunately a lot of other customers know this and choose to not pay. Ultimately all that happens is the utility pays out a lot of money to take the customer to court and ends up with a rulling where they get £5 a week or something.

It's not like electricity where if you are on a credit meter and don't pay, the utility can force entry to your property and install a pre-payment key or card meter.

Cardew

It is a complete nonsense to base water charges on the RV - a system based on the notional rent a property could get as long ago as 1973.

pompeyrich wrote: »

Doesn't really matter when the RV was calculated as this is only the starting point of the calculation.

Don't understand what you mean?

My point was that an RV assessed 30+ years ago on criteria that was never intended indicate water usage is a nonsense.

It is posible to have a fully occupied 8 bed mansion with land stables etc(Band H and worth £millions) with a lower RV than a Band A 1 bed flat.