Cheaper Water Bills Article Discussion

BringwoodCougar

When I moved into a Band D property built in 1968 I obtained a rebate, as has been mentioned for having a soakaway.  Having moved into a newbuild Band D recently I didn't have to claim that rebate as Anglia Water new it had soakaways.  Both houses have water meters and saved me a fortune on charges but there is one saving I have made that I haven't seen mentioned in any of the MSE tips and that is fitting a secondary meter to your supply where you have an ouside tap.  Providing you use an approved meter, you fit it yourself and tell Anglia Water you have done so.  Every time my water meter is read I give them the reading from the secondary meter and they remove the volume of water used through this meter from their reading for sewerage charges.  If you use a fair bit of water on the garden/lawn/patio cleaning/carwashing etc it soons recoups the cost of the meter.  My water bills are about half what the rateable value cost would be and the secondary meter saves about £80 a year.

Cardew

BringwoodCougar said:

When I moved into a Band D property built in 1968 I obtained a rebate, as has been mentioned for having a soakaway.  Having moved into a newbuild Band D recently I didn't have to claim that rebate as Anglia Water new it had soakaways.  Both houses have water meters and saved me a fortune on charges but there is one saving I have made that I haven't seen mentioned in any of the MSE tips and that is fitting a secondary meter to your supply where you have an ouside tap.  Providing you use an approved meter, you fit it yourself and tell Anglia Water you have done so.  Every time my water meter is read I give them the reading from the secondary meter and they remove the volume of water used through this meter from their reading for sewerage charges.  If you use a fair bit of water on the garden/lawn/patio cleaning/carwashing etc it soons recoups the cost of the meter.  My water bills are about half what the rateable value cost would be and the secondary meter saves about £80 a year.

Welcome to the forum. 

There was considerable discussion on MSE on the subject of an outside tap many years ago. 

The stance of the water companies at that time was that they make an allowance in sewerage charges of 10% for the total water consumed. 

There was a celebrated case that made the national media of a man who filled a large lake with tap water who had fitted an external meter.  He challenged the water company and won. He actually posted on MSE after his triumph but the tried to market the meter through this forum and got banned.

As usual(fraudulent) schemes were suggested e.g. filling your header tank in the attic with a hose from that tap. Filling swimming pools(that drain into sewer system)

I know Anglian water have this scheme - not sure about other water companies.

If I could take issue with one point in your post in that you say ' Every time my water meter is read I give them the reading from the secondary meter and they remove the volume of water used through this meter from their reading for sewerage charges.' 

If you look at the Anglian Water website I use a lot of water in my garden | Help and Support | Anglian Water it specifically states ' If you use more than the 10% allowance we already give to our customers ---- we can adjust the amount you are paying for sewerage services'

That appears to mean if you are the average family of four using 200 cubic metres a year, only water consumption (measured by the external meter) in excess of 20,000 litres a year will attract a reduction in the sewerage charge. 

That said I can believe that the 'all seeing - all knowing' accounts computer is not set up to cope with your situation and the whole reading is deducted.   

However for anyone to save the £80 a year you are saving, even if they don't apply the 10% deduction, with 'foul water' at £2.14/Cu Mtr they would need to use 37,000 litres on their garden.

trevjl

Not sure if it's been on here before, but a possible tip for some.
I live on an estate and a few years ago I somehow discovered that if you have soak aways for rain water then they should not charge you for that.
I looked at my bill and sure enough the charge was there. i rang them and they removed the charge. They, however refused to refund previous years. I think i should have taken that further but didn't bother. I told a few people locally and they did the same. At present my son is being charged, he lives nearby, Southern Water said they would look into it, he is still waiting. They know darn well this estate (built 1968 have soak aways but refuse to automatically take it off peoples bills.

outlaw118

Essex and Suffolk are commencing compulsory metering in the New Year. Currently if you choose to go on a meter, there is the 2 year switchback price guarantee; however such protection will not exist for those who are compulsorily metered, and after a period of time the 2 year guarantee will decrease for everyone.
If you refuse a meter then they have plans to increase bills i.e. penalise those who don't want a meter, myself included by increasing the RV bills disproportionally.

Ictmims

I use an orange (£1 B&Q) bucket in the shower to catch water as I shower, and use it to flush the loo.

Ictmims

Updated my Anglian Water Account to "Soakaway" for rainwater, and have saved £££ over the last 20 years.

Ictmims

Using MSE tips, I only pay £11 a month for my (water metered) use.

Diana2014

Some water companies (including Thames Water) not only offer a sewerage rebate for those who use a lot of tap water on their gardens, pools etc etc but also a rainwater discount for those who collect the rain that falls on their roofs via water butts, rainwater tanks etc. That discount can be awarded retrospectively for several years before the claim, too - although I was lucky enough to claim this before they limited the period for which that applies.
I've just banked a substantial cheque from Thames Water after not paying any water bills for five years because they owed me so much in long-uncredited discounts etc. Even after they'd billed me repeatedly for the past several years (first on  an estimated basis and eventually using meter readings) and taken what they billed from my account, there was still nearly £500 left due to me. It took weeks to get that back but now I can challenge any inaccurate or double billing without their issuing yet another bill and helping themselves to yet more of my credit balance.

cobbsy7

The Yorkshire Water link in the newsletter works but unfortunately after going through all the question and contacts, etc it just sits spinning saying loading files and won't go any further, however long I leave it for. 

Any advise?