Water meters

[Kathyan]

Can anyone who has a water meter give me an idea of how much water (units) you use please? We live in a three bed semi and there are just the two of us.

[jackthehat]

Our average consumption is about 0.8 m. cu. per week.

[boxtops]

Not without going in the shed, I can't - but our water bill for the two of us in a three bed terrace is now a third of what it used to be when we were on unmetered water.

[Robinia]

Google your water company and there's a good chance there will be a calculator on their site along with an approximate cost.

[boxtops]

Hard to tell though, robinia, since we all seem to use different amounts of water. We still bath, use the washing machine, water the garden - still so much less costly.

[Kathyan]

We had the meter fitted on 19th April and my OH went out to read it yesterday and it's on 10. I have no idea if that's right or not but it doesn't sound like much to me!

[boxtops]

Mine stayed in 2 figures for absolutely ages - probably 2 years. Sounds OK to me.

[jackthehat]

If that is 10 cu.m. divide by how many weeks you have had it fitted and that will be your average weekly consumption. Then investigate the cost per unit on you water provider's website........remember, they charge for units *in* and the same amount of units *out*.

[boxtops]

good point jack - our foul water/drains charge comes from another company, but is based on the incoming usage.

[Kathyan]

Ours is about 0.8 as well then.

[julia-mag]

I have been on the 'meter'; now for 5 years, and still put the same money money 'aside' as I used to, BUT, although the water rates have gone up in the last five years, my water bill is still only just over half of what t was 5 years ago! We do everything we normally did, even watering the garden when needed (Not right now!).

[ruthandsam]

Our neighbours, 2 adults and 2 teenage children get billed for £35 a month. However, in our house 3 adults and 1 child get billed for £56 a month - still trying to work out if we have a leak!!

[boxtops]

ruth, worth checking - before we had our meter put in, the water board found that we were leaking 3 bathsful a DAY from a leak under our boiler on the incoming water supply (it was going straight into my neighbour next door :-(

[sidkid]

I have heard people say that having a meter fitted makes it more difficult to sell your property - don't know how true that is. I do agree that if there are only a couple of you, you will pay less on a meter. That's certainly true for me.

[hc4361]

Don't know why having a water meter would affect a house sale.
Under the The Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended by the Water Industry Act 1999), in particular section 144B, Sub-section 2 (b) all water boards can compulsorily install a water meter when the property is sold.

[craft1948]

My water bill is £8 a month................but I do use a lot of wet wipes.

[hc4361]

Wet wipes? Horrid things that clog up the landfill, or worse, the sewers.

[TOWIE]

Ours is: Usage Cubic Metre(M3) - 92

We pay £34.74 per month on a standing order.

We never had a choice, the meter was already here when we moved in 7 years ago.

[Old_Geezer]

I was unaware of any ability to compulsory fit a meter on a non new house. I hope it isn't true as it would be yet another example of how those in charge are thoroughly unsuitable for the office they hold.

Of course it will affect selling a house. Some folk have a social conscience and object to water not being provided to the community by the community and are appalled to the core by what is being forced through.

Of course bills are cheaper for folk with meters, the companies have an interest in getting meters in everywhere. Meanwhile, since the company profits must remain the same for the shareholders, the lower rate paid for water by those with meters are inevitably subsidised by those who have no desire to take a bribe of cheaper water for the duration,

Water should be available to those who need it in the quantity they need it. A system imposed whereby folk are encouraged to use less water than is necessary for proper hygiene, is a bad system.

[craft1948]

hc.........................I was joking.

[hc4361]

Oh. Sorry, Craft, but I do know a woman who does all her cleaning - floors, dusting, windows, bathroom - with wet wipe things.