What is your opinion about water meters?

[manilow]

I have one and it certainly makes me turn off a few taps - but as a child I always thought that water was free.

[Gilli]

Unfortunately, as a child, most people remain blissfully ignorant of such "hidden" household expenses and get a nasty shock when they grow up and have to fend for themselves.

Not least with water, because when you asked for a juice or a glass of milk, you'd often get told to have a glass of tap water "because it's free" !!

I had no idea that rates/poll tax/council tax type bills existed, and never thought about home & contents insurance either. Electricity & gas were vague commodities _ I knew they weren't free, as in "turn that bl**dy light off", but then, as I couldn't see them either, never really understood the fuss my parents used to make.

[funkychicken]

when I was younger the water was free! we had our own water supply as we lived in between 2 small villages and there was no mains water pipes.

[shaz-rla]

When I was younger in Scotland we were definately not water metered (I asked my mum that question too!) - hose pipe water fights etc... Now I am "grown up" and live in England I am horrified by the amount we are charged for water - I am always telling my kids off for leaving the tap on! (and no I am not a tight Scots girl!!!).

[willowman]

Why should water be free, any more than electricity or gas?

Sure, when people drew the water from their own wells then it could be described as free. But nowadays water has to be collected, cleaned, distributed and eventually cleared away. This all has to be paid for. And it should fall to the consumer to pay for the amount of usage.

I will, however, hold up my hands and say that I am a fully paid up member of the NIMBY brigade. I run a boarding cattery, we use a dishwasher for cleaning the feeding bowls and a washing machine for the bedding; we also have a wild life pond and a Koi Carp pond, and I would hate to think what my water bills would be if I was metered!!

[5029]

Its still free in Northern Ireland... for the time being!

[lecheekyworm]

I also am very careful with water as I live abroad.  We did not have town mains and no well so it had to be bought from next door and put in a cisterna.  It was expensive and very inconvenient - all three of us would use the same bath water and I could not use washing mashing everyday.  One weekend the neighbours were away and we had no means of getting water - it was horrendous - now have mains water and have to admit I use washing machine every day - that is my one luxury, but it makes me cross when people come here for the summer and leaves hoses on overnight just for pretty flowers.