Is £60pm for a two person household too much?

lyle1993

Two people who both shower twice daily (and have a deluge shower that has a flow rate of 10.2 litres per min). Probably combined 20 minutes in shower daily (5 minutes per shower).

Dishwasher runs 3/4 times a week, same with washing machine. Barely any watering of plants whatsoever. Very usual flush and tap water use.

I'm reading my meter every day and it's coming out we are using 0.4m3 a day (0.3m3 on a good day). Which I guess seems about right with above use...but then that would work out at £60 per month which seems way too much?

Is 0.4m3 a day really that much above the average two person household would use? Our neighbours who are two person household say there's has gone up to £35 per month (and they are retired and always seem to be out in garden)?

Could well be right but just seems really high £60 for two people....first time buyers so no idea what's what really with this water bills business!

teaselMay

That's quite a lot of shower water, will certainly add up. Mine's around £30 (NW united utilities) for me and dogs, definitely more washing than average, 1 shower a day, home all day. This past month or so use has been high through trying to get grass seed germinated, decorating and extra washing as moving soon, it's interesting to see what makes a difference. I reduced mine significantly by turning the stoptap down to reduce flow rate

lyle1993

teaselMay said:

That's quite a lot of shower water, will certainly add up. Mine's around £30 (NW united utilities) for me and dogs, definitely more washing than average, 1 shower a day, home all day. This past month or so use has been high through trying to get grass seed germinated, decorating and extra washing as moving soon, it's interesting to see what makes a difference. I reduced mine significantly by turning the stoptap down to reduce flow rate

Thanks for the reply! Would that be turning the internal stop tap (I think under our kitchen sink) down? That could be a game changer for us! 

teaselMay

That's what I did yep. My shower is straight off the mains, although it has had a water saving head for a few years, I used to love how good the shower was but I prefer a lower water bill. It means everything uses slightly less and so the reduction adds up.

Ed to add if you turn it down too far the washing machine gets cross and takes a while to fill.

QrizB

Also keep in mind that stop taps aren't designed to throttle flow. You'll get wear in the mechanism and there's a good chance that within a few years it won't function as a stop tap any more.

mmmmikey

Hi, a better option for reducing the shower flow is something like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/flintronic-Restrictor-Different-Universal-Replacement/dp/B0BB1K74JZ/ref=mp_s_a_1_3_maf_1?crid=3SX9E60IRAHXR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KpRCuLoO--4eiTTr6DZx6IqVM9n3i_kiaBrgWAUAhkI3JcS2Q3JRPBDDpyMrpELMvq9575KajerbmyHEhYBeRdbNIzFxU0up4JmYlCESD9YDBfpqoQUdSQNHAuxmv7oh3qHNOQKirQZ4LApo-QqqD3YBQoKiRINSF7z_vNp6OdfpeuZ-x8ImGc1VxDAk_HFxeSx3Yvh2FZB4RvuJucjP6Q.d7chNFLPXpt93XIAlwi8C4T4D7yeaOnjtwHDMD4vkNU&dib_tag=se&keywords=shower+flow+restrictor&qid=1746691186&sprefix=shower+fl,aps,106&sr=8-3

This has the advantage is that it won't slow down the flow to washing machine, dishwasher, etc. Some water suppliers give this kind of water saving device to their customers for nothing, and they also have lots of practical advice on their website.

It's worth checking you haven't got a hidden leak somewhere as well. Make sure that nothing is being used in the house then have a look at your water meter. There is normally a little black cog shaped indicator that spins when water is being used. It should be perfectly still when all the taps etc. are off. It is very sensitive and will detect even the smallest leak.

lyle1993

mmmmikey said:

Hi, a better option for reducing the shower flow is something like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/flintronic-Restrictor-Different-Universal-Replacement/dp/B0BB1K74JZ/ref=mp_s_a_1_3_maf_1?crid=3SX9E60IRAHXR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KpRCuLoO--4eiTTr6DZx6IqVM9n3i_kiaBrgWAUAhkI3JcS2Q3JRPBDDpyMrpELMvq9575KajerbmyHEhYBeRdbNIzFxU0up4JmYlCESD9YDBfpqoQUdSQNHAuxmv7oh3qHNOQKirQZ4LApo-QqqD3YBQoKiRINSF7z_vNp6OdfpeuZ-x8ImGc1VxDAk_HFxeSx3Yvh2FZB4RvuJucjP6Q.d7chNFLPXpt93XIAlwi8C4T4D7yeaOnjtwHDMD4vkNU&dib_tag=se&keywords=shower+flow+restrictor&qid=1746691186&sprefix=shower+fl,aps,106&sr=8-3

This has the advantage is that it won't slow down the flow to washing machine, dishwasher, etc. Some water suppliers give this kind of water saving device to their customers for nothing, and they also have lots of practical advice on their website.

It's worth checking you haven't got a hidden leak somewhere as well. Make sure that nothing is being used in the house then have a look at your water meter. There is normally a little black cog shaped indicator that spins when water is being used. It should be perfectly still when all the taps etc. are off. It is very sensitive and will detect even the smallest leak.

Thanks for this! Can you fit one onto a waterfall/deluge shower head do you know?

mmmmikey

lyle1993 said:

mmmmikey said:

Hi, a better option for reducing the shower flow is something like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/flintronic-Restrictor-Different-Universal-Replacement/dp/B0BB1K74JZ/ref=mp_s_a_1_3_maf_1?crid=3SX9E60IRAHXR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KpRCuLoO--4eiTTr6DZx6IqVM9n3i_kiaBrgWAUAhkI3JcS2Q3JRPBDDpyMrpELMvq9575KajerbmyHEhYBeRdbNIzFxU0up4JmYlCESD9YDBfpqoQUdSQNHAuxmv7oh3qHNOQKirQZ4LApo-QqqD3YBQoKiRINSF7z_vNp6OdfpeuZ-x8ImGc1VxDAk_HFxeSx3Yvh2FZB4RvuJucjP6Q.d7chNFLPXpt93XIAlwi8C4T4D7yeaOnjtwHDMD4vkNU&dib_tag=se&keywords=shower+flow+restrictor&qid=1746691186&sprefix=shower+fl,aps,106&sr=8-3

This has the advantage is that it won't slow down the flow to washing machine, dishwasher, etc. Some water suppliers give this kind of water saving device to their customers for nothing, and they also have lots of practical advice on their website.

It's worth checking you haven't got a hidden leak somewhere as well. Make sure that nothing is being used in the house then have a look at your water meter. There is normally a little black cog shaped indicator that spins when water is being used. It should be perfectly still when all the taps etc. are off. It is very sensitive and will detect even the smallest leak.

Thanks for this! Can you fit one onto a waterfall/deluge shower head do you know?

Ah, yes, didn't think of that. It depends on the head and how it's plumbed in. If there's a joint you can get to, you could just undo the joint and replace the sealing washer with one of the flow restricting washer - how easy that is depends on your DIY skills. Not difficult if you've done simple plumbing jobs before, but not everyone has.

luvchocolate

Can't help technically but I live alone...pay £28 month 
No dishwasher or washing machine (have onsite laundry) no garden. 
My must have is a daily bath