does anyone have a water meter? is it cheaper?

[paddingtonbear1]

We currently pay £56 a month water rates. My friend has a water meter (installed before she moved into her house), and pays £25 a month! So a water meter can be cheaper? Do you have to pay to have one? We don't have many baths - generally use shower - but we do have a dishwasher. Only 3 of us live in the house, dh, dd and I. We don't use a hose much or have a sprinkler. Has anyone changed to a water meter, was it better?

[paddingtonbear1]

Thanks janinlondon for your link. It says a water meter may well be cheaper for us! Think I will definitely look into it!

[janinlondon]

I have done my calculations. A meter would certainly not be cheaper for us!!!

[hana]

we have a water meter and it is cheaper - with 3 small kids under 6 I do a fair amount of washing, dishwasher on every day and showers/baths most days.

I think everyone should have a water meter myself

[MascaraOHara]

My dd has one (or two) baths a week, I have a shower everyday. We have a washing machine and dishwasher but I wouldn't have thought they are used excessively. We are out all day everyday FGS.

Bloody anglian water!

[janinlondon]

Oh it would help if I linked it I suppose!
Here

[janinlondon]

This article sets out potential costs and savings depending on where you are and what size household. Though it will also depend on whether you are a "light" "medium" or "heavy" use household. When we were sent the information a few years ago, the water company made an assumption that in a "heavy" user household there would be three to five baths per person per week. Which I found a bit staggering to be honest.

[SlightlyMadStar]

I have just had a look at Anglian waters vulnerable househod scheme - which charges £300-350 per year.

Sevrn trents household scheme charges about £265 per year.

Severn Trents voulnerable charge is based on the average for all metered custumers in its areas.
If Anglians is the same - that does suggest that Anglian is quite a bit more expensive.

Nothing you can do about it though - other than move houses.

[paddingtonbear1]

it sounds like it might be worth looking into then. cheers!

[SlightlyMadStar]

I'm with severn trent and don't find it expensive

[paddingtonbear1]

we do live in an expensive area (cheshire). council tax is £160 a month too!

[crokky]

£56 a month for water sounds a lot to me. Water meter could be cheaper.

[SlightlyMadStar]

YOu can't change water supplier

[Charlie999]

I don't think you can shop around - This 2 company situation is non-negoitable (?sp) - odd isn't it?

[TheQueenOfQuotes]

oh - and we're not on a Meter.

[SlightlyMadStar]

£35 per month does sound expensive, for 1 adult and 1 child.

For 2 adults and 2 children who like to leave the tap running we were only paying £24 a month before we were capped.

What area are you in?

[paddingtonbear1]

we pay £560 a year atm. wow!

[TheQueenOfQuotes]

Mascara - I'm with Anglia too - we pay £38 a month (or somewhere round there)

[Charlie999]

I have 3 beds, washing machine on every day, dishwasher on every night, showers, hose etc etc and still only pay £18 per month

[MascaraOHara]

I'm with Anglia water and it seems to cost me a fortune.. can you shop round for water supplier nowadays?

[Charlie999]

perhaps you should ask water company to check your meter and no leaks MOH? Does sound a lot...

[paddingtonbear1]

We live in a 3 bedroom house. We only have 1 child. I just assumed dishwashers must use a fair bit of water, but I am probably wrong! It is a fairly new one, and not a full size - don't know if that makes any difference!
My dad lives in a 4 bed house on his own and he finds a water meter cheaper.

[Charlie999]

Kent - have to pay mid-kent water for supply and Southern water for waste - god knows why