water bill just increased!

curve2722

Hey all, just here looking for some information about my recent water bill i got from northumbria water who have decided to increase my water bill from £42 p/m to £61 p/m (after a recent actual reading on 7th may for the 6 monthly thing).

Up to Nov 2016 i was paying £27 p/m, dec-may is £42 p/m/ and now its £61 p/m.

Im abit bemused why this is the case, but i do understand there has been a 2% or something price increase in april.

I live in a up stairs apartment/flat (2 bedrooms) with my partner, have the odd showers/baths as normal, etc and use water only when we need to really, like an average couple would.

I just cant understand why im now paying £61 p/m and wondered whether this is actually the norm for most people in these circumstances?

I hardly read my water bills but apparently my consumption from may16-nov16 is 97 cubic meters and nov16-may17 is 94 cubic meters (meter readings compared 1183-1277)

also on the bill suggests that a typical usage over 6 months of 85 cubic meters is a household of 5 people!

also ive always paid my bill so theres no unpaid bills carrying forward.

gonna call them tomorrow and see what they say. i would read the meter myself but its too deep down to read and cant even check if its the correct one being read too.

appreciate any responses that may help but its unlikely to be a leak?

glennevis

If you have a mobile phone with a camera that has a flash you could try pointing your camera down the hole (if it doesn't have a flash shine a torch down there). I managed to get readable results after a few tries. Don't drop the phone!

NW will probably ask you to do a leak test yourself which involves taking a reading then turning off your stopcock and taking another reading to see if there is any movement.

[Deleted User]

@curve2722
Although this will not help with the bill, you might want to look at the various free schemes ran by NW to help save water https://www.nwl.co.uk/your-home/using-water-wisely.aspx

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Average for a couple is around 2m3 a week, relating to around 50 to 55m3 in six months. You probably have a leak.


main areas for leaks that build up like this are the toilet cistern, or the hot water tank cistern. Turn off the stop !!!! to the house over night and take a reading. In the morning, the meter should not have moved. Turn on the stop !!!!, if there is an in rush of water, that is indication of a leak on your system,


You water board may allow a rebate if find and fix a leak when you are billed.

fredandwilma

Hi and welcome to the forums, curve2722,

There is a Water Bill Forum, (above the main energy forum).

Please could someone move the thread to the Water Bill Forum?

Hth

Thanks

f&w

curve2722

Many thanks for all your answers. I've taken a picture of the reading using Glennevis advice. Thank you Blackbeard i will turn off the stop tonight and check reading in the morning, then see if theres any pulse when i turn it back on. hopefully there is a leak, cant imagine how just 2 people using water sensibly is just as much as 5 people. will also check water saving methods if there isnt a leak and NW does nothing.Thanks GSMLNX for the advice.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

I was the the mill yesterday, do could not link.

Good info here
https://www.ccwater.org.uk/watermetercalculator/

Seems the profanity filter does not like Stop C0CK

Cardew

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth wrote: »

Seems the profanity filter does not like Stop C0CK

Or S!!!!horpe Scu nthorpe!

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Cardew wrote: »

Or S!!!!horpe Scu nthorpe!

Scunthorpe