Is my water bill too high ?

nearlyrich

We just got our water bill for the new financial year and I think it has gone up too much, it is now £497.72 an 8% increase on last year.:eek: My annoyance is increased by the fact that we have no choice of supplier but every day I see the TV ads which must cost a fortune telling me how wisely United Utilities are spending my money. :mad:

Is there anyone out there with a water meter in a similar property, 4 beds 2 bathrooms and a cloakroom. Occupied by 2 adults, one 17 year old mermaid ( spends hours in the bathroom) and sometimes by my student son who can also shower for hours it seems when he is home. (In September both will be away at Uni most of the year.)
We have a dishwasher but it is fairly new so uses water efficiently, or so they said to justify the high cost of purchase, we run it only when it is full. We also have a washing machine but it is used sensibly ( ie not with one pair of jeans in) at least when I am looking anyway. We sometimes use a hose to wash cars but again we do this sensibly and don't run gallons of water down the drain.

Can anyone give me an idea of the cost of a water meter for this sort of usage?

deanos

Have a look at this chart
http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/sanity.php?sectionid=86&parentid=14&mode=readyreckoner

It all varies wildly beween property to property

Paul_Varjak

Why not swap to a meter - they will install it for free and then see how much water you use - you can read the meter yourself, do the necessary calculations and then cease the meter if you wish!

If you do not not cancel within first 12 months you are stuck with the meter!

DJ1UK

Do you know what your ratable value is?

We have just applied for a water meter with UU and our yearly bill was around £500 with 3 adults we were quoted that we would save between £70 and £140 a year.

Give UU a call on 08457 461100 and ask the amount of saving they would expect and if they can send you out an info pack.

DJ

murphydavid

Luck you mine just went up 12%

Robert5988

"Is there anyone out there with a water meter in a similar property, 4 beds 2 bathrooms and a cloakroom. Occupied by 2 adults, one 17 year old mermaid"

The number of bedrooms will not affect the amount of water used. If you pay for surface water drainage the type of house(terrace/semi/detached affects the charge.

However, to give you a comparison, with 3 adults in my household(Severn Trent Area) my charges for last year were £330 which includes £58 for surface water drainage for a detached house. I used 178 cubic meters of water.

Lea2520

I live in a 2bed semi detached council property, i am a single parent with a 10yr old Daughter and i am on benefits (believe me, not through lack of trying to get a job!), my water bill for 2009/2010 is £617!!!! I am now having a water meter fitted, the guy at UU said the average use for a person in my circumstances uses about £200 per year and that my my Rateable value charges alone are higher than that... It is barbaric!!!! If a bus stop was put outside my house, which bear in mind i wouldn't get a choice in, my "rateable value2 and therefore my water bill would go up!!!! Would someone please tell me what a bus stop outside my home (or a street lamp for that matter) has to do with the amount of water i use?!?! And this government of ours wonders why this country is falling on its knee's financially...Because they come out with ridiculous rules like that!!!!!!!!

deanos

A bus stop has nothing to do with your water charges, are you on drugs ?

DVardysShadow

deanos wrote: »

A bus stop has nothing to do with your water charges, are you on drugs ?

I think the argument is that a bus stop would increase rateable value and therefore increase water charges for unmetered premises. So more a case of it would but it shouldn't, are our rulers on drugs?

Cardew

Prior to 1990 facilities like the property on a bus route, near a school etc could have some effect on the Rateable Value and hence water charges.

However any improvements or loss of facilities since 1990 will have no effect as the RV cannot be altered.

The OP should get a meter, and if it is not advantageous, they can revert to charging based on RV within 2 years(I believe it has increased from 12 months)

steph123steph

I have a water meter, 2 bed, me and husband shower every morning, and bath baby every night. Our bill comes in at £21.53 a month, on a water meter. I didnt consider this changing when we increase the family size thoi, I think its a really good rate Im on and interested in seeing how mine compares to other ppls in similar situations x