Can I be forced to have a water meter?

SickandTired1960

Hi, I'm totally new here and don't really know what I'm doing ( technology isn't my strong point ). Basically can my water company force me to have a water meter? We have had issues since moving 3 years ago in that our water has a very strong smell of chlorine and my health has not been good since moving here. We had it tested by the water company and they said it was high in chlorine but was still safe. They suggested we contacted our local council as it could be the pipes, we did this but the council didn't really do much, someone came out but didn't check anything and basically said it was down to the water company regarding the smell/taste. Sorry I know this is two issues firstly the water meter and secondly the quality of the water. Would be grateful for any help.

la531983

One issue has nothing to do with the other.

Why dont you want a water meter? It may actually be cheaper.

Exodi

No, they can't force you to have a water meter, however for many people it would work out cheaper.

This is separate to the issue of the chlorine content of your water - something to speak to the water company about rather than the council?

Keep_pedalling

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82035508#Comment_82035508

They can if you live in an area of serious water stress.

https://www.anglianwater.co.uk/global-faq/serious-water-stress---compulsory-meters

vacheron

Out of all the people I have personally met who opposed water meters, not one of them paid more when I finally convinced them to get one. What is your main opposition to one @SickandTired1960?

The general rule used to be, if you have the same or less people in your house than you have bedrooms, you are almost certain to be better off.

We switched over to one as soon as we could when we moved in to our current house in 2010, since then we have saved over £8,000 by being on a meter. The previous owner refused one for the previous 8 years and lived in the house ALONE with a rateable value (in 2010) of £62 per month (still double what 3 of us living there are paying now in 2026!) 🤦‍♂️

p00hsticks

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82035584#Comment_82035584

Although there are properties where they are unable to fit a water meter for various reasons - in that case, you can ask to go on a estimated bill based on the number of people living in the property rather than the rateable value.

Slinky

We have a Phox water filter jug which has refillable cartridges, it improves the taste of our water hugely.

SickandTired1960

Thank you for all of your advice. Yes I understand that I posted regarding two separate issues, the first being the water meter and the second being the chlorine. It looks like we might not have an option as my partner looked up about the water meter and we are apparently in an area of possible water shortage. As for the chlorine it's not so much the taste so some kind of filter wouldn't help, it's the very strong smell of the chlorine even when using the shower it physically makes me sick. We have had the water company check the levels and they just said it was within the limits and it's safe. Sorry for not replying to you individually but as I said I'm new to this site and technology isn't my strong point. But thank you all for your advice.

MattMattMattUK

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82037338#Comment_82037338

What people think is "chlorine smell" is actually chloramines, they are one of the products produced when chlorine breaks down biological substances. Chlorine does not actually smell, or at least at concentrations of chlorine gas that would not mean you would need to be sent to hospital and the concentrations in domestic water are several of orders of magnitude below that left, so the smell is not chlorine, it is chloramines. What that means is that the smell you are experiencing is the result of the chlorine in the water breaking down biological substances, then generating chloramines.

What I suspect, because it is usually the most likely cause, is there is contamination in your internal water system, biologicals growing in a cold water header tank can be one major cause, a cracked pipe letting a nutrient in. Did your supplier do a full panel of water tests, or did they just test for chlorine levels?

jimjames

if you don't like drinking the water due to chlorine smell then putting a jug in the fridge will generally clear it

matelodave

We also have a bit of a chlorine smell in our water but use a Brita filter jug for our tea and coffee and drinking water as it disperses the chlorine smell and taste.

I suspect it a combination of the filter and the water sitting for a couple of hours before being used which helps to disperse it. The jug does need a clean between filter changes though as the de-chlorinated water in the bottom can start to grow algae if you dont.

It was a problem we ghad in both our boat and caravan - the pipework after the filter and before the taps would need a regular dose of Puriclean as the de-chlorinated water would get a bit brackish if it wasn't clean regularly.