Water meters - pros and cons?

Cardew · 18 September 2018 at 3:20PM

chrisw99 wrote: »

The calculator estimated usage at 900ish whatever per day (can't remember the units).
Anyone here with typical kids who get through a lot of water know what their daily usage is when on a meter?

The average consumption is 50 to 55 cubic metres, per person, per year; so a family of 4 would be 200 to 220 cubic metres per year,

The 900 would be litres - 900 litres is 0.9cubic metre.

So 900 litres a day would mean 328cubic metres a year.

Don't forget you can get a meter fitted and you have 2 years to see if it is cheaper.

This from United website https://www.unitedutilities.com/my-account/all-about-water-meters/

We fit meters free of charge - and you have up to two years to switch back if you don't find that it's working out for you.

chrisw99 · 18 September 2018 at 3:39PM

Thanks for the figures, sounds right - my family uses double the average for gas and same for electric, so probably would be higher than average for water too!

I have concerns about getting the meter fitted to try it out. You can switch back now, but it only needs a simple change of legislation for them to say anyone who has a meter has to now be billed using it. Also once they see how much more they would make from me having a meter, they'd try and wangle it somehow so our bills would go up.

maisie_cat · 18 September 2018 at 3:53PM

Our water bill is not yet as high as it was before we had the meter fitted in 2006, I have no idea how much water has gone up in that period but I suspect it has increased by 50-75%.
I do not think that having a meter will motivate people to use less water. Especially those who don't care about usage and can't be bothered to have water butts for the garden. Water is quite cheap actually, so washing cars with potable water is what people will do regardless of having a meter or not.

harrym1byt · 18 September 2018 at 5:53PM

chrisw99 wrote: »

I have concerns about getting the meter fitted to try it out. You can switch back now, but it only needs a simple change of legislation for them to say anyone who has a meter has to now be billed using it. Also once they see how much more they would make from me having a meter, they'd try and wangle it somehow so our bills would go up.

I doubt they would or could force you to keep using the meter. The test it for two years option is intended to encourage the installation of meters.

They can however insist subsequent purchasers of the property, pay using the meter, once a meter is fitted.

Cardew · 18 September 2018 at 10:45PM

harrym1byt wrote: »

They can however insist subsequent purchasers of the property, pay using the meter, once a meter is fitted.

Agreed, but they can insist subsequent purchasers have a meter fitted even if they don't want a meter.

Some water companies enforce this provision of The Water Act - other companies don't bother.

falcieri · 25 October 2018 at 11:57AM

I moved into a flat in April that had a metre already so I was stuck with it. They estimated £300 (149 litres per day) for me alone so I knew I had to get the bill down. The metre at least still gives you the control to reduce your bills. By following a few simple rules, my bill came through today and I have halved my water bill down to £197 a year (50 litres a day) and they've simply adjusted my DD's down to accommodate it. Whilst metres may be more expensive (my last house had no metre and was £116 a year) at least I have been more mindful with water which we all should be anyway. Had I been on rateable value I probably wouldn't have been so respectful for the water. So despite everything I have heard about them, I actually think they are a good idea.

onomatopoeia99 · 27 October 2018 at 12:02PM

My water bill was over £60/m based on rateable value, this for a band C council tax property (small bungalow). With a meter it's £18/month.

I'm yet to work out the "con", the "pro" is over £40/month.

wild666 · 20 April 2019 at 5:09PM

I am seriously thinking about changing to metered water as I had it in a privately rented flat from 2008 to 2010 and it only cost me £165 nearly two years supply. The sticking point is I am trying to get out of this two bed flat as I live alone and am tapped up for the bedroom tax but as soon as I move I am going to do it , but if the wait is much longer then I am going to do it all the same.

wild666 · 24 April 2019 at 4:02PM

I have just enquired about a water meter and they are coming to do the survey on the 20/8/19 and fit it if possible I have been thinking about it for years. I had one in a flat from 2008 to 2010 and my yearly bill was only £105, when I moved out in December 2010 I hadn't paid for one years water in the whole time I was there if it had been on the the rate value.
They told me I would use about £20 to £25 a month with a water meter but I think I would use less than that. All I have to do is keep the dog from jumping all over the person for attention when they turn up.

JJ_Egan · 10 June 2019 at 2:16PM

Post makes no sense and is just a lead in for spam .

Water meters - pros and cons?

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