Water Usage Doubled According to Severn Trent - 2 Adults

Bettie

Thanks for update. I was told the push button toilets are a major source of leaks because the water pressure changes at night which can cause them to trickle. The leak often goes undetected. Only this week my neighbour was informed of excess use which was traced to her fairly new toilet. She has had the internals replaced several times. She will not get a rebate as they called it a design fault, not a leak as such.I was advised never to change my old fashioned pull lever one.

Meanwhile, my leak is now my responsibility and I have 21 days to find it and fix it. 😠

MattMattMattUK

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81927860#Comment_81927860

Modern toilets do not leak because they are pish button, they leak because the water delivery mechanism from the flush relies on rubber seal which over time debris gets stuck in and stops it completely sealing.

Ayr_Rage

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81932274#Comment_81932274

Excellent typo (I guess) @MattMattMattUK !

They have two buttons, pish and poo, LOL.

Bettie

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81932274#Comment_81932274

only repeating what the man from the water board told me.

MattMattMattUK

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81932475#Comment_81932475

Your previous post claimed that they said it was due to changes in water pressure at night, it is nothing to do with that, which I pointed out.

Bettie

yes that's right. That's exactly what I was told. The pressure changes at night and in the morning causing it to trickle .

waterboard took one look at inside her cistern and saw the waterline and knew straight away her problem even though it wasn't trickling at that moment.

I don't think it can be a very good system to go wrong so often.

my neighbours new toilet has now had the plumber out 4 times for this same problem. When I was at work it was a constant problem in staff toilets in the day, even when new internal bits were fitted.

TroubledTarts

Can you view your smar meter data on your online account. With Anglian water you can and it gives you peace of mind when there is no water use it proves you have no leaks.

Example below

Spot the 1am trip to the toilet

Bettie

I can't. Wish we had that system. I've had mine fixed but I'm still on edge as so far 5 leaks found and I've been told I may get more as pipes are old.

Peter999_2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81962725#Comment_81962725

Well, that has really annoyed me. I'm with crappy Yorkshire Water who are completely hopeless. Their smart meter reads two times a year, two bloody times. Ok, I thought, I'll submit a reading every month like I used to do with my electric before smart meters. Oh no, you can't do that, you can only submit meter readings twice a year as well.

Looking at your excellent app showing water use down to 30 minute use makes my blood boil. YW just can't understand that with them hiking their prices up so much it is now really important to keep on top of the bills. Think I'm going to speak to my MP.

I had a bad leak that was using 60 litres an hour - it was only picked up during one of the two meter readings a year so had been going on for probably 2 or 3 months. Grrrr. My bill was thousands and it really worries you. Fortunately I got it fixed (was just a fitting after the meter that was easily fixed) and they didn't charge me the money but they had no suggestions as to how I could easily prevent this from happening again.

thriftytracey

Update. Severn Trent has put up our DD to £81 despite us asking for the water meter to be changed (they refused). Water usage is recorded as double since a new meter was fitted over a year ago now and we are hugely in debit.

To recap we had an engineer come out earlier this year - no leaks. We had a plumber come out there was one toilet that was filling but wouldn't account for the amount of water used. He fixed this and checked the other toilets - not filling.

Another bill showing huge usage and DD increase. They sent another engineer out - same chap who was very helpful. His report said again no leaks either side and recommended a meter change. This has now been done. STWA say we have to wait 6 weeks before they review the DD. I have been taking daily readings. We were away abroad on 8th June when it was fitted and returned on 26th June

Water Meter Readings
			Notes	Litres
08/06/2026		227.000
26/06/2026	08:00AM	227.880	25/06/2026 2 loads of washing, 2 showers
27/06/2026	08:10AM	228.370	3 loads washing, dishwasher, 2 showers	0.490
28/06/2026	08:45AM	228.680	I load washing, dishwasher, 2 showers	0.310
29/06/2026	11:00AM	229.420	dishwasher, 2 showers, pressure washer	0.740
30/06/2026	10:00AM	229.741	1 load washing, two showers, hosepipe	0.321
01/07/2026	09:30AM	229.930	dishwasher, 2 showers	0.189
02/07/2026	12.30PM	230.210	dishwasher 2 showers	0.280
03/07/2026	09:00AM	230.460	dishwasher, washing machine	0.250
04/07/2026	09:00AM	230.820	two showers, washing machine	0.360

So other than the days when we did 4 loads of washing and one day of pressure washing we are using average amounts of water (2 people). I am taking photographs of the water meter.

I also read a BBC news article where residents in Cornwall had huge bills after new water meters fitted.