Do I have to have a water meter?

matelodave

If he's on a meter then he should be monitoring what he is using (try reading the meter at least weekly) and try to reduce his consumption as he is paying for what he is using. It's only by measuring it yourself you can determine when and why it's being used.

Using a washing machine twice a day sounds a bit excessive - saving the clothes until there's a full load might save several runs during the week - it uses just as much water & power for a half load as it does for a full one. They could take shorter showers, shallower baths or fewer of them. Don't let water run down the sink when washing, rinsing or cleaning teeth. Even filling the kettle with just as much as you need instead of full up will save both water and electricity.

Some water companies provide free water saving devices like things to put into the toilet cistern to reduce the flush volume and flow restrictors to fit on the taps & shower to reduce the amount of water that comes out - a 10 minute shower at 10 litres a minute (lpm) uses 100 litres of water - that's 40p where I live. Reduce it to 5 lpm and 5 minutes and you are only using 25 litres = 10p - 75% less and you are just as clean.
Water isn't cheap anymore so the more you save the less it costs, in fact a bucket full costs about the same as one kwh of gas

nearlyrich

JackieO wrote: »

Well I for one have been pleased by having a meter.I used to pay almost £30.00 odd a month and now my water bills have dropped to £15.40 a month.I live alone and by having the meter I have halved my bills.

We went for a meter last year out water rates were £72 per month (10 months so £720 per year) currently paying just over £10 per month so thank you United Utilites £600 per year saved..:)

brewerdave

I've had my meter fitted inside the house on the rising main; this had to be done because the local Council have,at some time in the past, resurfaced the pavements outside my property and buried the stopcock!!!Tried to find it with a metal detector but its obviously too deep.
The good thing is that if there is an underground leak then I won't get charged - the bad thing is that if my internal stopcock fails then the whole road will have to be turned off to allow repairs:eek:

matelodave

Didn't they put a stopcock each side of it.
My Mum's one was fitted right next to the incoming internal stopcock and a second stopcock was fitted immediately after the meter so it could be isolated - she had a remote display on the outside wall so it could be read without needing access.