sky high water bill and usage??

kev182

Hi there, long time lurker, first time poster.

Moved into a brand new house last may, with the other half, and have my mate who's in the marines lodging .

first water bill came last december, which was just under the £200 mark for 6 months.

now bearing in mind in these first 6 months, we had numerous guests/gatherings, so toilet etc got plenty of use, I was working long hours and not going to the gym so was showering daily at the house, as was the other half, I laid the back garden with turf in the height of summer so had been running sprinklers on it for an hour a day for a couple of weeks. we apparently used 64 cubic metres of water. Which seemed reasonable.

this morning, landing on my door step was a water bill for the last 6 months. for £541, saying we've used 202 units in that time!!!!!! which is excessive, considering my lodger has been away for most of the year , now I go the gym Im probably showering twice a week at the house, the other half maybe 3/4 times, I've only used the water butt on the garden,wash the car at work etc.

Checked the meter and they've read it right. however their meter reading is down as 23rd june actual reading 266. checked the meter just now and its at 271.

Suggesting in the last 4 days, Ive used enough water that would normally last me 2 weeks last summer. Checked the house for leaks, nothing, I know since the 23rd june, the showers been used 4 times for maybe 40 minutes in total, and we've done the grand sum of 3 loads of washing.

Am i correct in thinking something is amiss? and whats the next step? do i just monitor the meter, and go from there? can I get my Meter checked and do they charge? is there anything I can do about this bill(i can afford to pay it, however If somethings wrong, Id rather not pay it till I can get it resolved, as in my opinion I should be owing them £150-250 for the 6 months).

Only other thing I should add, is around 3 weeks ago, the hydrant across the road from our house, started bubbling water out the grate, was like that for 3 days,has ruined probably 100m2 of block paving belonging to the estate. because of the sand being washed from under it. then they came, dug it out , bricked it back up and left. Is it possible that that has had any bearing on it(can't see how, but Im far from a plumber)

Cardew

The crucial point is to determine if the 64 m3 May to December bill was based on an estimated meter reading(an under-estimated reading).


The 64m3 usage for 7 months for the usage you have detailed seems low; and of course the 202m3 seems very high.


If it was under- estimated, this latest bill could be a 'catch-up' bill.

kev182

the 64 m3 bill was down as actual. and would equate to around £400 a year, which for 2.5 folk living in a house, doesn't seem too far off average.

don't get me wrong, we don't exactly watch our water, but the bath gets used maybe once a month, dishwasher has been used 3 or 4 times in the year. and was factoring £40-£50 a month for the water (so was pleasantly surprised when my bill came in at £33 a month for the previous 6 months).

But to take a jump to £90 a month. is a distinct kick between the legs. and does mean I need to think about really cutting back elsewhere, but Im of the opinion it can't be right.

Im sure when I checked the meter mid may, it was sat at 132, which would be more in line with our usage, but of course, wouldn't like to say I didn't misread it and it was 232.

Am going to monitor it and check back at the meter in a couple of days, as if it is going up by 1m3 a day, then theres clearly something wrong.

Only thing I can think of that could explain it, have they pressurised the main when they repaired the hydrant across the road, and either burst a pipe between the meter and the house(only about 10 foot), or has it smashed the impeller on the meter up, and the little things spinning round to its hearts content in there??

If there is something wrong, what do I do(as proving theres a fault isn't going to be a 2 minute job, or cheap.), and who's to foot the bill (Im of the opinion, if they've broke my meter, then they will get holy hell unless they square my bill off to what it was last time or below, but am i entitled to a meter check). However if its a burst pipe, Am i to pay for all repairs/the water used. Or is it there problem??

Obviously Im only asking the if somethings wrong questions, as if there isn't anything wrong, I just need to tighten the belt when it comes to water usage.

Cardew

You don't say where you live - South West Water charges are way more than anywhere else(and lots of marines in the west country!)


If there is a leak after the meter, the water company will normally carry out a free repair as a goodwill measure, and make an adjustment to your bill to compensate. However it is a goodwill gesture so don't go in all guns blazing!


Similarly if they have broken the meter - but that seems to be just a guess - they will repair and give an allowance.

kev182

broken meter is a total guess, but then so's the leak, (given that its only 13 months since the house was finished).

As I say, Ive got no idea what the issue is, going to get the washing etc done in the morning, and turn the stop !!!! off for 18 hours or so, see if the meter moves at all.

Obviously if it doesn't move I need to think about looking into my water usage/open the stop !!!! but make sure no water is used and check for movement.

Your advice about not going in all guns blazing is probably wise, wasn't sure how best to handle it, as realise anything past the meter is my responsibility so wasn't sure if going in softly would get me fobbed off.

Live in the midlands, with STW as my provider, wasn't so much looking at the bill price, the water usage(and the the subsequent waste water charge) works out at at 1004 litres a day!!

Cardew

Well to have only used 64 m3 in the first 6/7 months(with sprinklers etc) and 202m3 in the second 6 months clearly indicates something is wrong.


Even though you indicate the December 2013 reading was not estimated, could it have been misread?


Obviously you are taking the correct diagnostic steps i.e. monitor with stopcock off and then stopcock on.


1m3 a day is clearly wrong. The main culprit for internal leaks is a faulty cistern with the overflow water flowing(silently) back into the toilet bowl.

kev182

right , turned the stop !!!! off, and went out shopping for 45 minutes,the result, Ive used 60l of water whilst I'm out.

Ive reported it to severn trent as a leak on their website.

Where do I stand regarding the water leak/bill?? is it something I pay and claim on the house insurance(and will they cover the bill/or just the leak)? do I ask severn trent nicely? do I go back to the developers(as the house is under a 10 year guarantee??)

Cardew

Severn Trent do operate a goodwill system and bill adjustment. see:


http://www.stwater.co.uk/households/pipes-leaks-and-drains/leaks-and-bill-adjustments/leak-and-bill-adjustments

yangptangkipperbang

If you do have any problems with the bill and if it is a "brand new house" give the bill to the builders ! Poor/faulty workmanship.

matelodave

If the house is still within the 10 warranty period then get hold of the builder to sort it out and to pay the bill - my mate got a water bill for nearly £14,000 due to a leak (he has it framed on his wall) the builder came and sorted it out and paid the bill.
The alternative is to get the water company to do it if they offer the service and they usually give you a leakage allowance to compensate for the loss ofwater.
I'm with Anglian Water and had a leak last year - about 1 cu.m a day for about a month. They wouldn't do the repair but did give me a leakage allowance. My house insurance covered the repair and re-instatement.
I now read my meter more frequently to monitor my consumption and to check for leaks

kev182

many thanks, have spoken with severn trent today, who have froze my account and are getting someone out to look at it, the fact they've pressure tested my main in the last few weeks may have had a factor to play in it.

Builders are taylor wimpey so I'm going to wait to see the outcome of what S.T.W find and go from there. if they fix it for free, all well and good, if not, ill be forwarding the bill to taylor wimpy.