Water meters - pros and cons?

eurozulu

The best thing about having a water meter is it makes you appreciate the value of water, and when you brush your teeth for example instead of keeping the tap running you learn to turn it off.

sho_me_da_money

How do I find out what my RV is?

I'm seriously considering the switch and would like to know if it is worth it or not.

Cardew

sho_me_da_money wrote: »

How do I find out what my RV is?

I'm seriously considering the switch and would like to know if it is worth it or not.

It is shown on your bill. either as Rateable value or RV.

phsci

whitesatin wrote: »

Of course, the breakdown of the bill shows the element of sewerage charges so it is not all about running taps etc.

Not sure I understand this. With a domestic metered account, the assumption is that a litre drawn from a tap ends up as a litre to dispose of via the sewer. (I know that this isn't always true e.g. when watering the garden, but given the practical difficulties of measuring wastewater flow at the domestic scale it seems a fair approximation to me.)

whitesatin wrote: »

I find it interesting how I am now actively conserving water, e.g. using a jug to catch the water from the cold tap first thing in the morning before filling the kettle and using that for the plants.

Why do you run the tap before filling the kettle? Do you have lead pipes ?

amiehall

I have just moved and received my opening bill from Southern Water. The RV is £123 which would give an annual bill of £330. I live alone in a small 1 bed flat and think this seems like a lot of money for water.

I'm 90% sure my property wouldn't be suitable for a meter as my boiler is in a cupboard with boilers of other people on my floor and I presume they share a water supply. Do I need to ask my LL's permission to have a meter fitted? (nothing about it in contract) Is it worth me just going ahead and asking him if and only if the property is approved for a meter? I think an assessed charge would be lower?

Froglet

Yes it would be quite a lot lower,so i do hope you can get the ok to have a meter fitted..He may need to ask your water company to come and assess the situation anyway unless previous tenents have asked the same question.,

Cardew

amiehall wrote: »

I have just moved and received my opening bill from Southern Water. The RV is £123 which would give an annual bill of £330. I live alone in a small 1 bed flat and think this seems like a lot of money for water.

I'm 90% sure my property wouldn't be suitable for a meter as my boiler is in a cupboard with boilers of other people on my floor and I presume they share a water supply. Do I need to ask my LL's permission to have a meter fitted? (nothing about it in contract) Is it worth me just going ahead and asking him if and only if the property is approved for a meter? I think an assessed charge would be lower?

Strictly speaking you don't need to ask the landlord.

The assessed charge for a single occupant with Southern Water is £250 or £270(depending on surface water drainage)

SaLoGo

I moved into a house last year with a meter already fitted. 4 people in a 3 bed house. I was dreading the statement coming this month. We had been paying £26 a month for 12 months but our toilet was leaking without us knowing.

Turns out we only used £142 and they are refunding us £170 and putting our payments down to £15 a month. Chuffed muchly!!

debbie22

I've been thinking about getting a water meter for years, but with a large-ish house and family of four didn't think it would be worth it.
Since reading this thread and checking with Yorkshire Water that you can revert back to unmetered within a year if not suitable I'm going to give it a go.
At best we may save some money and if nothing else will be more disciplined about saving water (when I've got the kids on side!)

Debbie

Wannabedamned

I do believe I shall be moving over to a water meter. My parents have just done it and their bill of £50 a month has dropped right down to £20-£25. And thats a household with 2 people in it, plus myself and my brothers weekly visits.

So I can imagine I will save, as I currently pay £35 monthly. And there's only me here! In a 2 bedroom house, I do have a bath rather than a shower, Which as far as I'm aware is a faus paux with regards to being energy efficient.

But still, I imagine it will be a good move.