Compulsory water meter being installed

[A580Hojas]

This is happening all across my borough. A London borough that has countless leaks and burst water mains all the time .

Anyway, what are your top water saving tips? I wonder if we will have higher or lower water bills after it's installed. We are a family of 3 adults (sometimes 4 when dd is home from University) who shower rather than bath. I never use the washing machine or dishwasher unless there's a full load.

But I do water my garden pots (quite a lot of them) in summer and we jetwash our patio a couple of times a year.

I was thinking today as I was washing my hands and waiting for the cold water to run hot (combi boiler) that I might have to get used to washing my hands/face in cold water. What else?

Our bill which is unmetered via Severn Trent is huge, the dd is £104 a month. We're only a band C

If ever there was an argument for a nationalised water company this is it. How can Severn Trent water cost over double Northumbria Water? (We are also Band C)

We pay less since we've been metered - London borough - none of us like baths which I think has a huge impact, we don't really worry about usage. Even in the summer filling the stand up pool didn't make a huge impact on price.

I really don't understand the angst about water meters. Why shouldn't you pay for what you use? That's how it works for gas and electric. I don't see it as being related to local leaks which should be sorted however the water is billed.Not saying it's you OP but why should an elderly couple living in a larger family home using very little water effectively subsidise a family of 4 adults using a lot of water but living in a low rated property?
Having said that, I don't think you need to go all hair shirt over it. For starters your bill may change very little, but it is possible to be economical with water by not letting taps run, using a water butt and just generally being sensible.

Re water use :we do that anyway regardless of being unmetered we have several water butts, a hippo in the old toilet, we don't run the taps. We don't have hot water we just boil a kettle if we need it, no baths only showers and very frugal with it. We don't wash anything outdoors and no car so no carwash.

We live in a terrace built in 1904 with a shared supply so unable to be metered.

@Whitefire

Our bill which is unmetered via Severn Trent is huge, the dd is £104 a month. We're only a band C

If ever there was an argument for a nationalised water company this is it. How can Severn Trent water cost over double Northumbria Water? (We are also Band C)

Water and population aren't evenly distributed across the country. The costs of distribution and treatment are probably quite different. Why should northumbrians subsidise southerners?

We are metered…family of four who other than my daily bath use water fairly normally (have water butt but use hose too) and we are a low use house. To the extent that the water company have checked the meter is working twice in five years. Bills are substantially lower than they would be if we were unmetered.

Try living in Cornwall we pay much more than any other place in the Uk.No choice ,also very frugal.Water butt and small bucket in bathroom which fills to the top before the water is hot,use this for the plants.Keep the water from washing vegetables,peeling potatoes for the garden.Very quick daily showers.Turn the tap off when brushing teeth.Full washing machine and dishwasher.I hate seeing pure drinking water going down the drain why don’t we have a different system to use rain water from the roof for flushing and showering and washing the car?

When we lived in a bungalow, DH ran a hose from the bath down to the garden and syphoned the water down! I was worried about the soap etc, but it's a really small amount in such a lot of water.

We have a meter now and our usage is less than average for a home with 5 people so I think it would cost us more without a meter. We pay £37 total for water in and out.

Metering brought our bill right down. I was remarking to DH how little water costs us compared with our other bills and suggested we get a turbine to generate electricity from the water lol.

We asked for a water metre about 4 years ago and still waiting for them to put it in!

@Teastheword

Compulsory? I didn't think they could do that.

Yep they can.

If the area is designated as being in an area of serious water stress.

commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-7342/

The only problem with Thames Waters program is that with every few properties they compulsory meter to they end up causing massive leaks they don't fix for a week.

@Fizbosshoes

We asked for a water metre about 4 years ago and still waiting for them to put it in!

Complain to the Consumer Council for water. www.ccwater.org.uk/

I asked for a water meter when I moved in. Thames Water didn't answer me. I contacted the Consumer Council for water as I had proof I made my request. Thames water eventually came out and said I couldn't have one due to how my water supply is done. I was put on an assessed charge and given a rebate covering me from the period I asked for one.

A few years later I was given another rebate because Thames Water was fined by the regulator for not answering consumers questions.

ikeairgin It might be worth having a word with your neighbours to see what they pay. We're also in Band C and pay water rates to Severn Trent - was £50ish for each month we had to pay last year, this year it's £55.

OP I actually phoned Severn Trent a few years ago when we were in our old house, Band B, and was told it would be more expensive to be on a water meter for three people. I guess your current Council tax band will make a difference either way.