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Original poster

To water meter or to not water meter?

60 replies

MyPurpleHeart · 20/04/2023 10:11

My water bill has come through, for 2 adults who both work full time its £71.88 per month. Is it just me or is that very high?

DH works and stays away 3 nights a week so we are talking only 3-5 showers a week between us, two loads of washing and maybe 2 rounds of the dishwasher.

I'm tempted to change to a water meter but will that be more? Am I safer on a fixed rate?

OP posts:
Whatdayisitalexa · 20/04/2023 15:48

If you have less people than bedrooms I think it's recommended. I live alone in a 3 bed home in the south east, my water bill was £74 for 6 months...I don't use the washing machine more than once or twice a week and bath the same (I have an electric shower) and no dishwasher

Tdcp · 20/04/2023 15:48

I'm with yorkshire water, it's around £70 now. After reading this thread I'd like a meter but I live in a rented house so I'm not sure I can!

gubbinsy · 20/04/2023 16:29

We don't have a meter - Yorkshire Water. All calculations say it would be more. Those with meters are you paying across 12 months or 8/10 (ours was 8 months, just moved to 10 to lower monthly amounts). Can't work out how it's not telling me it would be cheaper.

AutumnLeaves5 · 20/04/2023 16:39

Do it! You also get 2 years where you can request to go back onto unmetered bills if the meter ends up costing you more - that’s the case with United Utilities anyway.

caringcarer · 20/04/2023 16:47

If you have several children so lots of laundry and bathing/showering then don't get a meter as you are likely to be using above average water. 2 adults living with no children will be using below average water so better off by far on a meter. My Mum who used to live alone was charged just over a quarter of her previous bill once she got a water meter.

caringcarer · 20/04/2023 16:48

Tdcp · 20/04/2023 15:48

I'm with yorkshire water, it's around £70 now. After reading this thread I'd like a meter but I live in a rented house so I'm not sure I can!

Ask your LL. I'm a LL and would happily agree to a water meter being fitted.

Limer · 20/04/2023 16:52

Meter. 2 adults here too, was £97 per month, now paying £16 per month. And we do lots of watering in the garden & greenhouse.

Icantstopeatinglol · 20/04/2023 22:54

AlltheFs · 20/04/2023 12:18

We really want a meter and can’t have one. Have had them out twice and they say can’t be done (no room for internal meter and the outside infrastructure is complicated and too expensive apparently). Our water charge here is double what we paid when we lived a few miles down the road and we had a bath then!

Infuriating. We are low users and it was £26pm on a meter and now it’s £48pm rateable.
We have the fresh water from one supplier and sewerage from another.

I really wish you could swap supplier for water-businesses can.

In the meantime I am being petty and deliberately using loads. The garden is getting watered liberally this year. Sod them. I’m getting my moneys worth!

Have you asked about an assessed measured charge? Usually if you can’t have a meter there is a tariff they can put you on that basically charges you what the ‘average’ metered user would use. These are often on a couple of tariffs for single occupiers or multiple occupiers. Might be worth asking about that?

xogossipgirlxo · 21/04/2023 00:26

We pay 40 for 2 adults and I consider it quite a lot. I would go no meter in your case

xogossipgirlxo · 21/04/2023 00:28

Oops sorry. Not “no meter”. Meter. We pay 40 with meter and we aren’t too crazy about saving the water.

BelindaMelinda · 21/04/2023 00:33

We were paying nearly £90 a month and we now pay £55 on a water meter.

Large 4 bed, 5 people and we use a lot. DH who likes gardening, hose out every day from spring. Washing machine on constantly. Dishwasher twice a day. Multiple showers a day. Muddy spaniel hosed down daily. Paddling pool, water fights in summer. Kids that constantly leave taps running 🙄

DiscoBeat · 21/04/2023 00:43

We worked out that we will be significantly worse off with a water meter so decline it every time they suggest fitting one.

Mañanarama · 21/04/2023 00:52

No meter, paying £32 for a family of four. I think we’d spend more than that with a meter.

Thighdentitycrisis · 21/04/2023 01:00

I pay £50 per month with Thames water for one person. I’m reluctant because I water my garden every day in summer for an hour at least

XenoBitch · 21/04/2023 20:49

I was paying £40 per month, and it is just me alone in a 3 bed house.
Just had smart water meters installed, so hopefully my bill will drop by a huge amount.

simbobs · 22/04/2023 06:58

I now have a booking to have a water meter fitted. They reckon I will be paying about half what I do now. So thank you OP this thread.

mizu · 22/04/2023 07:05

We are 3 in a 2 bed flat and pay £63 a month!!!
No water meter. May have to start enquiring!

Zippedydoo123 · 22/04/2023 07:44

Me and ds live in a 2 bed semi and pay £25 a month. It is £70 a year cheaper than when it wasn't on a water meter. I organised this at the start of the pandemic. We both take electric showers daily but keep the washing to a minimum. No garden hose for car washing or gardening. Ww do drink plenty of tap water though. No dish water so dishes done by hand. I have an average of one bath a week to soothe aching limbs.

LadyLapsang · 27/04/2023 22:56

Ours has just gone down to 25 pm. Two of us, dishwasher on twice pd, washing machine on every day, water the garden in summer and wash cars. Daily shower and a few baths pw. I do always buy the most economical dishwashers and washing machines, e.g. Miele.

StressedToDeathhhh · 27/04/2023 23:17

How do I find out if I would be cheaper on a meter? I've got 3 kids so 2 showers and a bath every day (and sometimes another bath for me), washing machine on once a day at least, dishwasher same. Big garden and we use paddling pools a lot in summer. I pay £32 a month at the moment.

ramonaquimby · 27/04/2023 23:46

But of course you should have a water meter. Everyone should, and pay for the water they use

Kyse · 27/04/2023 23:51

I'm with united utilities and pay £21pm on a meter
My dad is with the same and is £12pm on a meter

We both live alone but I shower more Grin have baths, and also do more laundry with exercise

LadyJ2023 · 28/04/2023 00:57

On water meter family of 7 68 a months

Nat6999 · 28/04/2023 03:58

I live in a council flat & my water is added to my rent, it's £15 a week & I live alone, I wish I could have a meter.

blahblahblah1654 · 28/04/2023 04:24

SES Water. No meter, £38 a month.