Water meter or not?

jasper27

Hi
How can I find out if I will be paying less on a water meter?

I live in a 3 bed semi, there are 2 adults (me and my son) and we're both on low income.

My latest bill breakdown is:-

Standing charge £42.62
RV 137 129.10p £176.87
Total water charge £219.49

Surface water
and Standing charge £47.89
137 153.30p £210.02
Total used water
and sewer charge £257.91

Total £477.40

Balance from 12/13 £134.90
Total £612.30

I had arrears from 2012/13 so I have been paying £53.40 per month, I have 2 more payments, then the arrears are cleared and the new bill starts in April.

The previous years bill was £461.68 + £255.40 arrears = £717.08 and the payments were £29.90 a fortnight.

Hopefully that all makes sense .. how would I know if I would pay less on a water meter? Also could I still pay on monthly instalments?

Thank you

macman

You can't, because until you are metered, you won't know what you actually use. However, since you can revert to RV billing within the first 12 months anyway, there is no need to guess. Try it and see-it's a no-brainer.
Yes, you can have a monthly DD system on either billling method.

bugslet

Well agree with macman, you don't until you try it, but as you can change back, then give it a whirl.

FWIW my friend and her OH pay 260.00 all in with their water meter. Still not had a bill for mine, I live alone, but expect it to come in under that.

jasper27

Thanks for your replies macman and bugslet

Cardew

Where do you live? i.e. who supplies your water?

An RV of £137 is fairly low.

It appears you are being charged for Surface Water Drainage - are you sure that is a valid charge?

If you tell us your water company we can give a more accurate estimate of costs on a meter.

jasper27

Cardew wrote: »

Where do you live? i.e. who supplies your water?

An RV of £137 is fairly low.

It appears you are being charged for Surface Water Drainage - are you sure that is a valid charge?

If you tell us your water company we can give a more accurate estimate of costs on a meter.

Thanks Cardew .. I'm with Yorkshire Water

matelodave

Having a look at the Yorkshire Water tariff and assuming that you'd use the average of 55cu.m a year each (110cu.m) then the water charge for 2013/14 (they haven't published next years charge yet so you'd have to add a bit) is £1.255 cu.m for water plus £32.18 standing charge and sewerage is £1.549 cu.m plus £47.89 standing charge
110 x £1.255 = £130.05 + £32.18 = £162.23 for water
110 x £1.549 = £170.39 + £42.89 = £213.28 for sewerage


So if you use the average it would be about £375.51 which is less than you are paying now - you might even be able to save £45 off the sewerage standing charge if you can prove that your surface water (down pipes, driveway etc doesn't drain into the sewers)


If you go onto a meter then what you pay can be reduced by using water wisely. Fit flow restrictors on your taps & shower (YW might give them away for free), put a brick in the toilet cistern to reduce it's water capacity.
Don't spend more than 5 mins in the shower. Don't let water run down the sink when washing, rinsing or cleaning your teeth. Only fill the kettle with as much as you need. Always make sure that the washing machine or dishwasher are full, half loads use as much water & leccy as full ones.
If you wash your car with a hose, make sure its got a trigger spray so you don't waste water.
There are two of us, we shower every day, wash the cars and caravan about once a month and we've got an automatic garden watering system - we only use about 75cu.m a year

jasper27

matelodave wrote: »

Having a look at the Yorkshire Water tariff and assuming that you'd use the average of 55cu.m a year each (110cu.m) then the water charge for 2013/14 (they haven't published next years charge yet so you'd have to add a bit) is £1.255 cu.m for water plus £32.18 standing charge and sewerage is £1.549 cu.m plus £47.89 standing charge
110 x £1.255 = £130.05 + £32.18 = £162.23 for water
110 x £1.549 = £170.39 + £42.89 = £213.28 for sewerage


So if you use the average it would be about £375.51 which is less than you are paying now - you might even be able to save £45 off the sewerage standing charge if you can prove that your surface water (down pipes, driveway etc doesn't drain into the sewers)

If you go onto a meter then what you pay can be reduced by using water wisely. Fit flow restrictors on your taps & shower (YW might give them away for free), put a brick in the toilet cistern to reduce it's water capacity.
Don't spend more than 5 mins in the shower. Don't let water run down the sink when washing, rinsing or cleaning your teeth. Only fill the kettle with as much as you need. Always make sure that the washing machine or dishwasher are full, half loads use as much water & leccy as full ones.
If you wash your car with a hose, make sure its got a trigger spray so you don't waste water.
There are two of us, we shower every day, wash the cars and caravan about once a month and we've got an automatic garden watering system - we only use about 75cu.m a year

Thanks alot matelodave, that's really useful. Where did you get the figures from? I've had a quick look on the YW website but didn't see that kind of information..

I am already quite frugal with my water, I only ever fill the kettle with enough water for a cuppa, I only use the washer when it's full, I fill the washing up bowl and don't wash up under running water, we mainly use the shower, only using the bath now and again and always turn the tap off while brushing my teeth.

I don't have a dishwasher, I have a car, but it rarely gets washed at home, and I don't have a garden hose or outside tap

It definitely seems likely I will save some money on a meter.. I shall give them a ring tomorrow.

Thanks again for all the help and advice from everyone