Is my water bill higher than the average - what is the average?

jacobsdaduk

Hi,

I've just got my water bill in and the direct debit is being increased to £59 a month to cover our current use. I have a 3 bed semi with 2 adults and2 children (both under 7). My wife and I shower and hardly use the bath and the kids have a bath most nights.

We wash up by hand and other than the washing machine I thought we were pretty good at saving water. Our bill would suggest otherwise!

Is £59 a month an average. We are served by Anglia Water. Our last house was £33 a month on rates but the new house has a meter.

Cardew

The average consumption in UK is around 55 cubic metres per person per year.

So with 4 people(kids use the same) your annual consumption should be in the region of 220 cubic metres per year. That said many people seem to use much less.

You should check from your bill if your figures are in that region.

You also need to check if you are being charged for Surface Water Drainage - and if so, can you claim relief from that charge.

mildred1978

Doesn't sound right to me. We have 2 adults and 1 toddler here. At least 2 showers per day, bath for the LO 3 times a week, 2 dishwasher loads a day and 3-5 loads of washing per week. We're also on a meter.

I pay £19 per month and am in credit by about £50!

Cardew

mildred1978 wrote: »

Doesn't sound right to me. We have 2 adults and 1 toddler here. At least 2 showers per day, bath for the LO 3 times a week, 2 dishwasher loads a day and 3-5 loads of washing per week. We're also on a meter.

I pay £19 per month and am in credit by about £50!

The price of water and sewerage varies tremedously across the country. Some areas like the South West pay between 2 and 3 times as much as some other areas.

That is why there isn't much point initially in comparing how much you pay, you need to firstly establish how much water is being used.

mildred1978

Cardew wrote: »

The price of water and sewerage varies tremedously across the country. Some areas like the South West pay between 2 and 3 times as much as some other areas.

That is why there isn't much point initially in comparing how much you pay, you need to firstly establish how much water is being used.

I'm in South Wales.

Cardew

Someone in Anglia water area using 220 cubic metres per year will pay £778(2012/13 rates) or £741 if no Surface Water drainage charge. See

http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/_assets/media/Charges_Scheme_2012-13.pdf

SailorSam

3 bed semi, April 2012 - March 2013, £673.35

Cardew

SailorSam wrote: »

3 bed semi, April 2012 - March 2013, £673.35

Presumably that is for unmetered?

pineapple

I'm a single 'unmetred' person in West Yorkshire.
Our water charge is apparently going up around 8% this year.
I'm expecting the annual bill to be £140 - £150. There again, we do get a discount as we discharge to a private septic tank.

SailorSam

Cardew wrote: »

Presumably that is for unmetered?

Yes, i didn't want to get a meter 'cos i thought if i come to sell it may put any buyers off, but now someone told me on here that when there is a change of ownership NW Water may fit a meter anyway.
It's a fairly big semi and i'm on my own so reading what others pay i'm sure i'd save quite a bit. That's to go on the 'must-do' list.