Water Meters

[clairelb]

Someone has recommended that we get a water meter fitted. Our current water bill is over �400 per year, for a 3 bed property and currently only the 2 of us living here (baby due soon). Is there any way we can find out whether it really would be cheaper for us to have one fitted? Has anyone regretted having a water meter fitted? I'd obviously hate to get something like this done only for it to cost us more.

Thank you.

Thanks

[lou100]

Hi, I've not done this myself but its something I have looked into. My water company is Northumbrian Water and on their website they have a usage guide which tells you wether or not you would be better off with a meter or not. You put in how much water you user per day etc and answer questions. Maybe see if your local water board has the same, or if not Google Northumbrian Water and check their guide.

Good Luck..

[stanleyman]

I think you will find that the way the tariffs are designed that you will not be any better off and it could cost you more to water the garden etc.

[raysparx]

I would say to you with a baby on the way you will be using a hell of a lot of water a water meter is great for elderly or couples out at work also take into account once a water meter is installed it can't be taken out again,I would NOT do it in your situation

[bentag]

We had a meter fitted over a year ago thinking we would use less water with our girls leaving home . infact we now have more washing as we got a dog and i do all the washing for my job so washers on everyday and we pay about a quarter of what it was before i do suggest if you have a garden (we also have a pond) to get a water butt . we got it cheaper through the water board also we find you dont need to skimp on the water you use just use it as you always do

[Oneeyedvic]

I know that a while ago, Anglian water allowed you to take out a meter, and if it worked out that you would pay more using a meter, they would keep you on the old scheme and not charge you any extra. Whilst this is obviously a good thing, bear in mind that it can affect selling your house. We *almost* pulled out of buying our current house when we found out it had a meter - luckily we didn't and our bills are fairly cheap!

[=rizla=]

In several areas where we live (wilts) at the moment they have a policy of every house sold gets a meter fitted.

The house we've recently bought has a meter fitted, its a 3 bed house with just me and the missis living in it, i'm guessing the water bill with no meter would be in the �30+ a month bracket, however with a meter we're paying �20 a month and in the last 3 months the water board owe us �10. I wash the cars at home etc and really dont try to save water anymore with having a meter but still it seems a lot cheaper.

I'm sure if we had a couple of kids that needed bathing every night and plenty of extra wash's for the washing machine etc it';d be more but the poeple who had the house before us had 2 kids, payed �20 a month and that seemed right for them.

[WendyS]

If you do decide to have a water meter fitted, ask your water board for a free "Hippo", which is plastic bag you place in your cistern to reduce the amount of water delivered with every flush. Apparently 30% of all household water consumption is used for flushing the loo. If you're keen gardeners, I'd think very seriously before installing a meter. Gardens can consume an awful lot of water in a dry season, even if you do use a water butt to help conserve rainwater.