water meter charges too high?

earthbound_misfit

Hiya, bit worried here as I read somewhere you can't get water meters taken out only put in. Here is the problem:
I live in a small terraced lower flat. As it's a 2-bed and there's also large houses round here I figured the meter would be a good idea/cheaper as I live alone (also checked rates etc). I had the meter put in early January.
I pay a standard monthly direct debit and then pay bills on any extra I use. For the first few months, I thought my bills seemed a lot so cut down on baths (no shower so got one of those rubber attachment things for the taps). Still seems a lot despite short showers and putting a brick in toilet cistern. I'm paying about £30/month at present (altogether).
Until recently I was also doing a homeless friend's laundry, and have a problem that requires more frequent trips to the WC - but can't see that these things would more than double my usage (ie: loo and washing machine used about twice as much as usual single occupant). However when I queried it with the water company they reckoned I was using, in two months, what they'd expect for a single person in a year! I also assumed they set their charges/expected water use quite high (ie. rather overestimate than under) so this seems even weirder. I provide meter readings every couple of months and they have had someone read the meter from outside apparently (some computerised gadget - amazed they have such a thing!)
They recommended I don't use any water for an hour and to see if the meter went up. It did - about 5 of whatever the smallest/last digit represents. Apparently this means there is a leak somewhere.
However - there is no leak. We have spent 2 weeks checking everything. My flat and the one above have a shared water supply where it comes off the street, but this meter is just on my supply - it's right next to the tap that turns off the water to my flat alone (tap to both is in the street). I'm pretty sure this is the case as there was a lot of faffing round when the meter was put in to find the right place/turn water off to my flat only. Also, when we tested for a leak by not using water, there was no-one in the upstairs flat.

Any thoughts as to what's going on? Is it possible it's a faulty meter?

(ps: know it's not a huge amount of money but really irritating to pay for something if I'm not using it, also every penny is really gonna count soon)

Cardew

Within 12 months of getting a meter(that you requested) you can revert to being charged on the basis of the old Rateable Value. The meter isn't removed but stays for the next occupant - or whenever they make meters compulsory.

However you really need to get the meter situation sorted out so you can make a fair comparison. As a guide a single person will use around 60 cubic metres a year on average.

If your meter is normal then 5 digits is 5 litres of water. Not a massive leak in an hour, but if constant would be over 40 cubic metres a year.

I would test it again over a longer period.

earthbound_misfit

Thanks - will try a longer time testing without using any water (overnight I guess). However, we have looked/listened for a leak and cannot find anything.
Is it possible the meter is faulty, or that the boiler is doing something dodgy? Like flushing water through or something?

deano4930

earthbound_misfit wrote: »

Thanks - will try a longer time testing without using any water (overnight I guess). However, we have looked/listened for a leak and cannot find anything.
Is it possible the meter is faulty, or that the boiler is doing something dodgy? Like flushing water through or something?

As you have stated the flat and the above may be on the wrong supply, Carry out a supply check..

This involves turning on a cold water tap, closest to where the water enters the property. have a look at your meter (Ensure the serial no is the same as on your bill) and see that the dials are moving. If so you have the correct supply.

If not its a case of locating the source of the high consumption.
It may just be that you use this water on a daily basis, on average one occupant is expected to have a daily consumption of around 0.14m3

Just keep an eye out for any signs that your boiler is running longer than it should, or your toilet cisterns are leaking etc.

It may well be your water usage, but again its important to ensure that the meter is capturing your supply alone, Carry out the supply check and then carry out a leak test overnight. If there is movement then it could be that the meter is supplying elsewhere if there are no leaks..

I deal with this day in day out so fairly common for me to deal with situations like this!

Gothicfairy

If it is a fusion meter it could be faulty but it normally does not run on in line with litres etc..it tends to jump all over the place.
If it is mechanical it really can't be faulty as it requires a flow to work.

So it would suggest that there is a flow and a leak somewhere.

boingsaidzebedee

I take it you have lifted the toilet cistern lid to make sure there is no overflow down the warning pipe outlet.Or if you have a push button toilet no overflow into the toilet bowl from the filler valve or dodgy dump valve.

earthbound_misfit

deano4930 wrote: »

Just keep an eye out for any signs that your boiler is running longer than it should

What do you mean? I have the boiler switched on all the time and when I run hot water it makes boilery noises... occasionally it does this at other times. Is this relevant? Should I switch it off when I'm not actually using hot water?
Sorry i'm so clueless, it's the first time I've had a whole flat to myself!

I'm sure I'm not using all that water, as the dial on the meter turns even when all taps are off.

Will check cistern too, thanks.

macman

A combi boiler (if that is what you have) is a sealed system, so if it's leaking it will not be drawing water off from the mains. It would just continue to lose pressure until you top it up via the filling loop.

earthbound_misfit

For anyone stumbling across this thread in future - it was the toilet cistern. A valve/filter thingy was broken so there was a constant trickle of water being lost. It also made it hard to flush the toilet.
Thanks for the advice ppl

McKneff

Thanks for the update, glad you got it sorted.