Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how much your water bills are?

148 replies

ExitPursuedByABear · 31/07/2015 14:42

Sorry to be nosy, but we have recently had our water meter 'upgraded' to a smart version, which means, apparently, that the water company can drive past the house, point a device and read our meter without coming in to the house.

But our water bill has shot up.

I am of the opinion that our old meter was not working properly and that we have been undercharged for years.

DH thinks DD has started having too many baths.

idiot

OP posts:
shovetheholly · 31/07/2015 15:06

Oh and no I don't live in a mansion alas but in bog standard, smallish 3 bed semi! It's because I'm not on a meter. I had no idea I was paying so much over the odds.

Quietlifenotonyournelly · 31/07/2015 15:09

Read pm

Nanasueathome · 31/07/2015 15:11

5 minutes ago my post came
And my water bill
£18.71 a month from September
On a meter, just me and the dog but we do use a fair bit of water as and when needed
Laundry most days, dishwasher, bath daily
I used to pay £65 a month before the meter
3 bed house

RabbitSaysWoof · 31/07/2015 15:12

I had a leak under my house once and the high bill was the indicator to check for a leak. Could they have caused any damage installing the new meter? I'm not on a meter now, it put me off tbh paying so much for so much wasted water the rebate was nothing like I had been paying over the years (it wasn't until I was talking about water prices with friends I realised it wasn't normal so called the water company after 5 years in the property.)
ATM I pay £50 with no meter.

ButterflyUpSoHigh · 31/07/2015 15:15

No meter £34 a month over 10 months.

Quietlifenotonyournelly · 31/07/2015 15:19

£39 a month, no meter here. Personally wouldn't choose to have one unless was one my own in a big (higher rateable value) home.

Quietlifenotonyournelly · 31/07/2015 15:20
  • on not one
EauPea · 31/07/2015 15:32

We are with South West Water (the most expensive iirc).

We pay £49 per month water and still get hit with a bill every 6 months for sewerage charges.

It's only Dh, Dd and me full time, with big Dd in the holidays (uni).

baldbyfifty · 31/07/2015 15:32

We live in Devon, ours is just over £1000 a year, South West Water staff rooms must have nice biscuits.

chelle792 · 31/07/2015 15:37

I know the the South west is pretty expensive - they have to pay to maintain the 'blue flag' beaches. My mum pays about £1300 a year.

I pay £15 a month. Two adults and one dog (not in the SW)

Rafflesway · 31/07/2015 15:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Iwantobreakfree · 31/07/2015 15:53

£34 direct debit a month,moved half a mile and my bill went up £100 a year

FlyingGoose · 31/07/2015 16:06

Last year paid about £230 in total, on a water meter, two adults and two two year olds in the Midlands. We have at least one bath and two showers a day between us, sometimes more and I do 9 loads of washing a week.

Madbengalmum · 31/07/2015 16:11

£110 every six months

flagnogbagnog · 31/07/2015 16:15

I pay £21 per month, there are 6 of us.

I live in wales and because I'm claiming child benefit for 3 or more children my water rates are capped at this rate. I don't think everyone knows about this. It's called 'welsh water assist'. I wonder if there is an equivalent in England?

Original poster
ExitPursuedByABear · 31/07/2015 16:19

Thanks all.

Our first bill on the new meter is £380 for 6 months. 2 adults and 1 teenage DD. Two showers and one bath a day. Dishwasher and washing machine used every day.

Apparently the water company told DH that our water use is equivalent to 5 people!

OP posts:
KinkyAfro · 31/07/2015 16:22

£25/month, 2 adults + 1 dog. Meter here too

thatsn0tmyname · 31/07/2015 16:26

Ours has recently increased by 50% to £31 per month. They said it's to cover a debt caused by direct debit and will be reviewed in 6 months.

BumbleBeeBat · 31/07/2015 16:27

£20 a month but I think it has just been adjusted down a little bit. I got a letter saying the account was in credit. I'm in the midlands.

Pastamancer · 31/07/2015 16:29

SWW here so expensive. We are on a meter and for 2 adults, a 3yo and a baby it is roughly £80 a quarter

Marylou2 · 31/07/2015 16:34

Can I ask if you all knew this without looking? I asked DH and he had no idea either. I'm going to check out Direct Debits and be much more aware of this sort of thing.

Princess28 · 31/07/2015 16:34

Just under £25 per month for one and £89 per year for the other. No meter (in the south)

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 31/07/2015 16:39

£280 a year on a meter, two adults, two pre-teens, DW and WM used about once a day each. About the same as it was when we were on rateable value (we were compulsorily metered).

I knew this roughly, but we had a bill this week so that was to hand.

Original poster
ExitPursuedByABear · 31/07/2015 16:41

DH is adamant we haven't got a leak. He checked it hourly whilst DD and I were away.

The water company think probably the old meter was undercharging us. Just seems a lot for 3 people.

OP posts: