Change to Water Meter - Wessex Water Region

Dizee123

After receiving this year's water bill of £1,168 (£97 per month over 12 months) I decided to change to a water meter due to the increase in cost from the previous year.  I had been meaning to do this for a while, but for a few years my adult children had boomeranged back to living with us (divorce and landlord selling rented house).  Now they are settled and, fingers crossed, unlikely to return it seems like a good time to do it.

2 adults living in a relatively small, 3 bedroom bungalow with large garden in Wessex Water Region.  We have a water butt, take daily showers (but turn off water while soaping, conditioning hair etc.).  No hot tub, paddling pool, swimming pool (I wish!) and grass isn't watered as it tends to recover.  Haven't really gone out of our way to save additional water, but have implemented a small butt by the back door for storing the run off while waiting for the hot water to come through to the tap (about 2 litres a pop).

I requested it in early March and it was eventually fitted early July, just as the garden needed a lot of water due to the heatwave.  I was a bit concerned as though the calculators forecasted a saving I was supplementing the water butts to keep the garden alive for a good few weeks.  I needn't have worried as the first three months readings have been quite an eye opener.

Jul/Aug - 9 units - £52.99
Aug/Sep - 6 units - £35.33
Sep/Oct -  5 units - £29.44
Yearly Water standing charge - £29
Yearly Sewage standing charge - £68
We also get a very small rebate as water runs off into soakaways

So should be on track to make a significant saving this year, especially now the garden should need less watering with autumn here.  If I have another water butt, I will probably reduce it even further.

Just thought it might be useful for anyone concerned about making the decision to go with a meter to see our readings and check the calculators for potential savings.