Family changing to water meter cost?

shabby_chic

Was wondering if any families have changed to a water meter and whether it made water bills much higher.

I ask as the property we are looking at moving to is metered and am worried about huge water bills in future. There are 3 adults and 2 children in the family and have checked online calculators but just wanted to get peoples opinions.

TIA

Mcfi5dhc

In our house, 2 adults, and two toddlers costs £40 a month in water - our company is Dee valley Water (North Wales)

So, a shower a day for each adult, plus one bath for the kids a day, washing machine never seems to stop. But we don't water the garden, or use our water to wash the car

Have always been on a meter, which has occasionally been at the £50 mark - it has reduced only by fixing leaky things, not by reducing use (we don't do the "If its yellow let it mellow...etc")

I know people on rates paying more than me in Chester (about 5 miles away), so we're fairly happy.

Hope that helps a bit

Cardew

Water charges vary tremendously across UK with some areas like the South West paying more than double the prices of other areas.

The average consumption for your family of 5 is 300 cubic metres per year(60 per person) although some manage to use far below the average.

You can look up prices on the website of the company supplying your area - you need to work out standing charges for water and additionally for used water(sewerage) and price per cubic metre for water and sewerage - with some companies there is a charge for Surface Water drainage(if your rainwater enters a sewer) on top.

Holophyte

shabby_chic wrote: »

Was wondering if any families have changed to a water meter and whether it made water bills much higher.

I ask as the property we are looking at moving to is metered and am worried about huge water bills in future. There are 3 adults and 2 children in the family and have checked online calculators but just wanted to get peoples opinions.

TIA

Hi,
I have also calculated water usage as my new build property will have a water metre installed. For 2 adults and 3 children in our property, average water consumption will be £570 per year, which according to the web site, we are below average usuage (Hurray for me)...As my bill at the moment yearly is £320 and now on a metre it will jump to £570 I am wondering why anyone would ever want to call their water company up and ask for a metre to be fitted!! Yearly, Quartley, Monthly bills on a standard water charge is always and is always going to be a better option than these metres. It's the same for Gas and Electric metres also, you always pay a higher rate on each! I hate all metres, and I have beeen told that because this metre will be installed prior to the house being built we have no rights to have my water usuage done by the RV and a yearly bill sent out. Water metres are another money making scam!!!! If you have the option, stay with what you have got no matter what the calculations claim, as you have to add standing charges and such to the final cost, and it will always work out more......water companies should hang their heads in shame, this isn't about saving the enviroment, it's about saving their business in a competitive market, and by doing this having a metre gives them additional income on a metre of around £250 per year from each property supplied with one!!!!!!

bigblackdog

if you live in essex the water company e+sw will install a water meter anyway , they have a policy on this where if the name on the water bill changes a gang will come round and install one , wether you want it or not . Not sure if the other counties have the same policy but just be aware it is highly likely that you will be metered as soon as you move .

flea72

as a rough guide, they usually say if you have more people than bedrooms in a property, then you will be worse off on a meter, compared to rateable value

so with a family of 5 if you have 4 beds or less, a meter will be the costly option

F

nursenancy

We had never been on a meter before until moving to the South West - and our first few water bills were waaaay higher than the gas and electric! As a result we've become obsessed with trying to get them lower - the result is showers are very quick, baths are a rare luxury.

We live in a rented property and didn't choose our washer/dryer, but after careful monitoring of the water meter I've discovered the quick 'energy saving' wash uses much more water than the full long length one (and so costs us much more money) and as it's a water cooled drying it uses 30 litres of water just to run the drying cycle for an hour! We have no outdoor space or I'd have lots of water butts and clothes lines! We got a small table top dishwasher since it can wash a load of dishes with less water than it takes to fill our basinand even factoring in the electric it is cheaper to run.

But we have to watch every penny at the moment, so it has to become an obsession...

ecoelle

we are on a meter, and in the severn trent region. £28 a month for 2 adults, cheaper than rates in our area and makes you think about how much you are using. i think it's a good thing.

Gloomendoom

Holophyte wrote: »

Water metres are another money making scam!!!!

Speaking as someone who pays around £200 per annum, I think that is rather a sweeping statement. I save a fortune on what I would pay if it was based on my rates.

dreamywings1

Hiya,
Do you claim any benefits like Housing Benefit/Working tax credits/Child Tax credits? If so you should be able to get your water capped. I am with Welsh water and I am on a meter but no matter how much I use I will be billed no more than £252 a year. You can also get it capped if you have some medical conditions off the top of my head I cant remember them all but I know psoriasis is 1.

HTH x

escortg3

My Water yearly bill was £650 per year. We had a meter fitted only 2 adults and now its £210 per year. Washing machine once a day. Dishwasher once a day. One bath and 2 showers every day. saving two thirds so i love the meter. :jwhere i live Welsh Water Authority if you do not make a saving in the first twelve months they will take the water meter out and put you back onto yearly.:T