Water Meter - Removal of

wazza

Sister bought her house from an old couple six years ago. The old couple had the water meter installed to the property. Sister is married with two young children. They do not have a dishwasher and use a shower. Washing machine is used roughly once every two days. Sister has been moaning that her water bill is high. Other sister has three teenagers (one who showers daily) and her unmetered bill is lower.

How can my sister check if her meter is reading correctly?


Can she have the water meter removed? She has been told that the person who asked for it to be installed can have it removed within the first year. Is this correct?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

mute_posting

Don't think she can have it removed, only the person who had it fitted can have it removed (well technically not removed - just revert to RV bills) within 12 months or 2 bills (I think) - when the house is sold that lapses AFAIK. As it was 6 years ago, I'd say it is certainly a big NO.

She "may" qualify for a social tarrif (though not sure if that requires 3 children of school age in household)

I belive you can pay (£50 - £80 AFAIK) to have a meter checked and this is refunded if it proves to be in-accurate.

The average usage is 60m2 per adult per year - what is your sis's usage? (also make sure bills have been based on actual readings and not estimates)

HTH

MP

deanos

wazza wrote: »

Can she have the water meter removed? She has been told that the person who asked for it to be installed can have it removed within the first year. Is this correct?

No you cant have it removed unfortunately, its true you can revert back to RV in the first year but this only applys to the person who had it fitted, if the property gets sold then the new buyers go onto a meter

wazza

mute_posting wrote: »

.....

The average usage is 60m2 per adult per year - what is your sis's usage?

HTH

MP

will let you know when i find out

anony_mouse_5

Ok if i can answer this?
the average adult uses about 1m3 per week per household
so based on that her weekly usage would be about 2.5m3 (2 adults 2 kids)

i take it the meter either has 8 or 9 digits. the 1st four/five digits are whole units then it goes to past decimal (100l/10l/1l/ and 1/10l )normally these are a different colour (red or white background)
to test whether a meter is accurate all she needs to do is take note of the last 2 digits,
then fillup a 1 litre jug the meter should complete a full revolution of the last digit.

No she cannot have the meter removed. it has to be the person who had it installed within 12 months.

Also there is NO such thing as the Social tariff- it is called watersure. and in this case she is a child short. (minimum of 3)

try the test as described above.
If i went out to her address its the first thing i'd do.

Elle00

anony_mouse wrote: »

Ok if i can answer this?
the average adult uses about 1m3 per week per household
so based on that her weekly usage would be about 2.5m3 (2 adults 2 kids)

i take it the meter either has 8 or 9 digits. the 1st four/five digits are whole units then it goes to past decimal (100l/10l/1l/ and 1/10l )normally these are a different colour (red or white background)
to test whether a meter is accurate all she needs to do is take note of the last 2 digits,
then fillup a 1 litre jug the meter should complete a full revolution of the last digit.

No she cannot have the meter removed. it has to be the person who had it installed within 12 months.

Also there is NO such thing as the Social tariff- it is called watersure. and in this case she is a child short. (minimum of 3)

try the test as described above.
If i went out to her address its the first thing i'd do.

That little test suggestion of yours is a really great bit of advice. I've taken note of it myself.

Cardew

anony_mouse wrote: »

the average adult uses about 1m3 per week per household
so based on that her weekly usage would be about 2.5m3 (2 adults 2 kids)

I appreciate you work in the industry but I would comment on your consumption figures.

The average consumption per adult figures vary according to what publication you read; most seem to state around 60 cubic metres(m3) per person per year. So your figure of 1 m3 per week is in the same ballpark at 52 m3 per year - if a little low.

What I dispute is that 2 adults and 2 children would only use 2.5 m3 per week.

I have seen nothing to suggest that children use any less water than adults. In fact subjectively I would have thought they would use more than adults. They go to the toilet as much if not more, their clothes need washing a lot, often take baths instead of showers etc.

Based on your figures you are making an assumtion that kids only use 25% as much water as an adult.

I would have thought the average usage for a 2 + 2 family would be around double what you suggest i.e. 5 m3 per week.

anony_mouse_5

Cardew-
Do you work in the water industry?
if you don't wouldn't it be a reasonable assumption to say i probably have more information/experience regarding this sort of thing. (since i work in the dept that deals with this)
So to clarify you are going to rely on info from a publication and not from someone who actually works in the industry,
The figure is purely a guide based on the average adult.
and is based on figures i was taught when i joined the industry.
1, children in theory use less water than adults when bathing as the bath would not be filled to the same level.
2, children do not as far as i am aware launder their own clothes.

TBH i'm happy never responding to any questions on this forum again.
And just reading of people having issues- I was only trying to help.

Elle00

anony_mouse wrote: »

Cardew-
TBH i'm happy never responding to any questions on this forum again.
And just reading of people having issues- I was only trying to help.

A-da-da, don't you go anywhere - I've got a post two threads down that needs an answer from someone who knows about watery stuff!!!

anony_mouse_5

Elle83 wrote: »

A-da-da, don't you go anywhere - I've got a post two threads down that needs an answer from someone who knows about watery stuff!!!

I've sent you a PM

Cardew

anony_mouse wrote: »

Cardew-
Do you work in the water industry?
if you don't wouldn't it be a reasonable assumption to say i probably have more information/experience regarding this sort of thing. (since i work in the dept that deals with this)
So to clarify you are going to rely on info from a publication and not from someone who actually works in the industry,
The figure is purely a guide based on the average adult.
and is based on figures i was taught when i joined the industry.
1, children in theory use less water than adults when bathing as the bath would not be filled to the same level.
2, children do not as far as i am aware launder their own clothes.

TBH i'm happy never responding to any questions on this forum again.
And just reading of people having issues- I was only trying to help.

No it most certainly would not be a reasonable assumption!

Also to throw your teddy out of the pram and threaten to leave the site, because your figures were(politely) queried is hardly constructive.

The beauty of the internet is that you can find out facts on water consumption very quickly.

Look at any of the many publications available from ofwat, the various water companies and Government statistics and they give a mass of detail on water consumption in UK households.(google 'water consumption UK')

You will also find a mass of detail on the breakdown of consumption in households.

So certainly I place more faith in those publications, than someone who works in the industry; unless they can give me evidence that the figures are wrong.

The rationale you put forward that children don't wash their own clothes(so doesn't count against their consumption) if evidence of your reasoning, speaks volumes.