To ask how much your water bill is

[someoneseatenmyapple]

Had our water bill yesterday. Direct debit is massively different from what we should be paying. Rang Southern Water Yesterday and they think we should be paying £66 a month (10 months). We have been paying £15.

Partly my fault for glossing over the previous 2 bills (we only went on to a water metre a year and a half ago) but a bit bloody annoyed they have only just flagged this up with me. We now owe them just over £900.

So a new direct debit of £66 - which does not take into consideration the debit - the guy was waffling on about capped payments and if I wanted to I could leave the direct debit at £15 but it would take me longer to pay the debt off (why leaving the payment at £15 would put us into more debt?).

We are a family of 3 (2 adults, 1 teen).

Should I take this up with them again/OFWAT?

They say this is normal use age for a family of 3 and it's unlikely we have any leaks.

We are with Anglian water, 2 adults 2 children (one teen) ours was £65 a month. We are now on a low income / disability scheme with them and it’s capped at £32 a month.

Thanks all for your replies. I've come to the conclusion that the £66 they want us to increase our direct debit to is still a lot (and is not contributing to the debt).

We are a family of 3. Take showers, instead of baths. Make sure the showers are short. Make sure dishwasher/washing machine is always fully loaded. In this hot weather ive been putting a bucket in our showers to collect excess water for the garden. Don't run the tap whilst brushing teeth. So I'm going to ring them today.

I'm just really annoyed that he said £66 is a normal monthly amount for a family of 3, when none of you guys seem to be paying anywhere near that amount. Completely ruling out a leak.

Severn, 2 adults, about £22/month

When we moved into my mums house a couple of years ago the water DD was £75 per month. That's a fixed price.

Since I've moved I pay £43 DD fixed price.

If you're not on a meter it's usually based on the size of the house. When I was on a meter (2 adults, 2 young kids) I only paid about £20 a month!

Have you asked your neighbours what they pay? Honestly people don't realise the disparity across the country so i don't think you can take an average from what people say on here. £66 per month is perfectly normal where i live. But would be huge in other regions because of the sewage costs.
Get it checked out though, just be aware that there is no national average/ basic rate unlike other utilities.

About £1200 a year but we do have a 22000 litre fish pond, a large hot tub and a DH who loves to wash the cars!

£66 a month? Bloody hell!

Generally if you have less people living in the home than bedrooms, you’re better off on a water meter than water rates.

Although DHs 30 min showers give me the rage.

Welsh Water £152 per annum. We have a septic tank. 4 bed detached house. 2 adults and 3 kids

We’re on a water meter with United Utilities and pay £69 a month. That’s for a family with 2 adults, 2 teens and 2 younger children. It feels like the shower, washing machine and dishwasher are on permanently!

£70pm (I think that's over 9 months) not on a meter with Severn Trent

£38 1 adult 1 teenager. Mine seems outrageously high compared with others here.

We're metered and ours has been reduced to £30 a month, we'd been overpaying. Three adults and a teen here in a three bed newbuild, so low flush loos, aerators on taps and we try to be careful with water but my husband has the occasional bath and my adult daughter lives in the shower.

43 pound four weekly (easier due to wages). It’s highish but we use a lot of water so I’d prefer a fixed rate. Two adults, a toddler and a newborn.

North west, 2 adults, one preschooler. We were paying £37 until recently but ended up in arrears, so now paying £50pcm which includes the arrears.

My friend has 2 adults, 2 teens and a preschooler and pays £100pcm!

£0

Private water supply.

£58 1 Adult 1 Child. We live in a flat. I think thats far to high, oh and we have a water meter which i swear is the work of the devil!

Also with Southern Water, metered, 2 adults, 1 teen and 2 DCs, £77 a month

£21 a month. Family of 4, including 1 teen. We're with Thames Water and metered.

Ours is usually around £260 paid each quarter

About £30 per month for unmetered water; same again for sewage (diff companies).

My dad was horrified when he heard that amount but does seem that they fluctuate a lot.

£20 per month metered with Dŵr Cymru - it’s only that high cos I was paying £9.50 (!) and got behind, so £20 will deal with arrears. One adult.

£31 a month for 2 adults and 2 kids with Thames Water.

£96 for the last 6 months. 2 adults 3 children. We are very water-conscious & according to a little chart they put on our bill, we use the same amount of water as an average household with 2-3 people.

Metered. One adult. Averages 45 a quarter

Normally 65 but can go up to 80. We have a disabled child and use a lot of water. Still quibbling with the water company about a cap.