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Original poster

Water usage - how can this be right?!

27 replies

NeverGotMyPuppy · 27/07/2019 07:44

So we pay a flat rate for our water. We pay a metered rate for our waste water. We have no idea where this meter is.

We got the waste bill yesterday. This time last year we were using about 80 litres a day. Apparently we are now using 320 a day. There are 2 of us and a baby.
Does this sound right to you?! Their scale only seems to go up to 400! I'm aghast.
For reference- we both have 1 shower a day, DS has a bath.

I just cant believe we have increased our usage so much?!

OP posts:
Magmatic80 · 27/07/2019 07:49

IS DS under a year? The bath could be 120 litres at least

MiniCooperLover · 27/07/2019 07:49

Washing machine because of the baby? Dishwasher?

Magmatic80 · 27/07/2019 07:50

Also, more washing for a baby?

Original poster
NeverGotMyPuppy · 27/07/2019 07:51

Yes we are doing more washing, we were using reusable wipes until recently.

Im just so shocked. It just seems so extreme

OP posts:
sueelleker · 27/07/2019 08:33

Do you have a leak? Our bill doubled last year, and it turned out to be a leak where our property joined the pavement. (Underground, so no-one noticed it)

Original poster
NeverGotMyPuppy · 27/07/2019 08:40

That's exactly what I have said to DH.
Up until about 8 weeks ago DS was in a bath bath which took 2 litres to fill!

OP posts:
daffydowndilys · 27/07/2019 08:43

You need to ask them where your meter is as that does sound extreme. If you knew where the meter was you could check it.

Dontgiveamonkeys1350 · 27/07/2019 08:44

We have this with our electric. Just keeps going up. I’m there all day on my own. Only use two storage heaters. Have had everything checked. Yet again they said we are using more. And the bill just keeps getting bigger. It’s an on going issue with them. I would speak to the company

MrsMoastyToasty · 27/07/2019 08:47

I used to work for a water company. You can't be metered for one service and on rateable value for the other. You've been billed incorrectly.

coconuttelegraph · 27/07/2019 08:47

2 litres to fill the bath? Are you sure, that's a tiny amount.

I have fully metered water so know how much I use and I'd say in your circumstances it would be almost impossible to use that much, get it checked

Original poster
NeverGotMyPuppy · 27/07/2019 08:47

Yes DH is getting on to them on Monday.

Does 320 litres a day sound mental? I probably do a wash every 2 days, sometimes a bit more.

OP posts:
Original poster
NeverGotMyPuppy · 27/07/2019 08:48

@coconuttelegraph yep - it was one of its advertising points!

OP posts:
Original poster
NeverGotMyPuppy · 27/07/2019 08:49

@MrsMoastyToasty thank you. That's really helpful.

Who do we start with? The waste people or the other?!

OP posts:
Needcoffeeimmediatley · 27/07/2019 11:52

Same thing has happened to us.

Vigilant water meter reader knocked on the door to say our usage has doubled over the last 12 months!

Our sewage water and normal water is with the same people, currently waiting for them to arrive to do a leak test.

HairyFloppins · 27/07/2019 12:02

You haven't got a digital water meter have you. We had one that was faulty and the numbers would go crazy just by opening the cupboard door that the meter was in.

Severn Trent had to refund us loads. They put an analogue one in and it's been fine since then.

Original poster
NeverGotMyPuppy · 27/07/2019 12:08

We have never seen the meter! We have no idea how anybody is getting a reading!

OP posts:
BringOnTheScience · 27/07/2019 12:14

140 litres per head per day is a standard volume used by water companies in large scale calculations.

Thinking that you're metered for sewerage services does sound odd - meters are on clean water only. Contact customer services and get clarification on this.

minniemoll · 27/07/2019 12:14

My water meter can be read remotely by a radio signal (or something like that) - they said they just need to come close to it and they get a reading without disturbing me.

sackrifice · 27/07/2019 12:18

First thing to do is find out where these meters are and start monitoring them yourself.

Violetroselily · 27/07/2019 12:21

Some water meters send readings automatically to the water company. I once lived in a flat for 2 years and never found the meter.

If you call them they might be able to tell you where its located - ours had a very vague description on their system e.g. "left hand side, near units" which was too vague to find it, but may be more specific for you.

CannyLad · 27/07/2019 12:28

320 litres per day isn't massive. I used to live in Melbourne where there was a big campaign to get water use down to 155 litres per person (and despite what neighbours would have you believe very few people have pools) so 320 for 2 adults and a bairn doesn't sound crazy.

If it's changed massively and you really don't think you're running the washing machine or dishwasher/filling a bath more then definitely question it though. But honestly 80l for you all sounds very low so it could be that it was wrong and now it's right. From memory a standard toilet flush is about 7l and a shower uses 9l a minute. Some water companies have calculators on their websites where you can figure out what you use.

www.nwl.co.uk/your-home/your-account/usage-calculator.aspx

CannyLad · 27/07/2019 12:36

I just worked ours out (2 adults, one child) and it came to 256l per day if using the washing machine 3 times per week. 80l is way low, unless you used a launderette.

Sophiesdog11 · 27/07/2019 12:46

I used to work for a water company. You can't be metered for one service and on rateable value for the other. You've been billed incorrectly.

If you did work for a water company, MrsMoastyToasty, you will know that some areas of the country have water supply only companies (I am an engineer in the water industry). Nine such companies according to google!

If this applies to Op, she will have 2 separate suppliers for water and wastewater services and thus two payment mechanisms.

SlipperyLizard · 27/07/2019 12:49

I don’t see how you can be metered for waste but not for water coming in?

From what I recall, we’re only actually metered for water coming in - the water company then assume our waste water matches the amount of fresh water we use, so we’re billed for that amount of waste.

You need to call the water company and ask them to explain your billing arrangements.

Sophiesdog11 · 27/07/2019 12:50

Who do we start with? The waste people or the other?!

This sounds like you have 2 different suppliers Op, in which case contact your wastewater company. Maybe ask where the meter is and for a check to be done in your presence.

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