General Chat

I have had a water meter for 3 years now and pay only a quarter of what I paid under the old Water Rates System.(One person household). I dont stint, but I dont waste either. One thing which does bug me - my meter has never been read in the whole three years. I am able to read it myself, because I had it installed under the sink, so I can check whether my estimated bills are reasonable - they are. However, they recently wanted to put up my monthly payment from £15 to £30. I phoned and said I was cancelling my direct debit until such time as someone came to actually read the b****y thing. That was two months ago and no-one has been. I started my water metering with a massive credit balance which has hardly been dented in 3 years. This credit never shows up on the bills and when I phoned to find out why, a very embarrassed clerk told me that the computer programme they use for the bills cannot cope with both debits and credits!!!!LOL! Yes, eventually the price of metered water will rise, but in the meantime I am smugly saving money. OC

We have a water meter... we (my nusband and I) live in a one bedroomed bungalow. We have a shower (no bath), and a washing machine, which I use only when it is full. I pay £24 a month, and the water board has just tried to make me pay £33 per month. after a discussion (heated) on the phone, they said it would be alright for us to carry on paying £24 PM!! There are people in our street who use more water on their gardens than we do in the shower... and their bills are lower than ours. Be very *watchful* of your bills, and never take them at face value! Deanna X

Brian, Jim, Thanks for you replies to my moan :0) Some houses around here do get the rebate - but they're privately owned! Brian, I think you're right, the water company is trying to avoid payment - and the council is aiding and abetting them ( I could get the plans if I filled out the equivalent to 'War & Peace and paid them for the priviledge)!! Winchester City Council doesn't like it's own tenants. Like the time some of us found out we'd been overcharged council tax for 9years. The council immedately repaid the private houses, we plebs had to wait 2 years, then they did it in such a way (not paying us an outright cheque), but by a series of 'rebates' over a few years, so comlicated that they were unable (or unwilling) to say exactly how much the rebate was!! maggie

Whole heartly agree with you, Grampa Jim. R.B.

Can't put too much faith in what members of the Govt think. After all, they think they know how to run the Country. And we can all see what a mess they are making.

Brought the paper that this story is in ~ its a secret plan ~ oh well the whole country will get to know one way or another. Government officals are working on a nationwide metering scheme in an attempt to find a long- term solution to the scandel of the water shortage. The proposal emerged from No 10 yesterday and was savaged by the Government`s own watchdog for massive water wastage.A member of the Gov.is said too believe that ordering metering for all homes is part of the long- term solultion to annual drought orders and hosepipe bans...

I'm glad our new house has a water meter. The rates were just over £700 but Georgeous and I won't have to pay anywhere near that with a meter.

We can put men on the moon etc. We live on an island, surrounded by rising water from all the ice caps which are melting. This raises a little query in my head. Happy days

Maggie, I went through my bill a couple of years ago and saw that I was being charged for surface water drainage. I wrote to them asking for a discount as two other flats are directly beneath my roof. They refunded the whole £18.

i had one fitted last august and am saving £14 a month .... xx

We live in a large house with two adults and two children. We have a meter because that has been the policy - to fit a water meter for all new properties since about 1990 - in this area. We pay about £250-£300 per year for our metered water and we are not terribly economical.....I'm sure we pay a lot less then those around here who don't have a meter. BUT.....if everyone has one (eventually) then surely the water companies will increase the cost of water because they won't like receiving less money! It cost us over £2,000 to have our mains water connected in 1994, even though the water was already in the pipe in the street, 8 foot from our frontdoor. Now that IS daylight robbery!!! Merry

In April 2005, our annual bill based on rates was £750. A water meter was installed last August, and based on first 6 months, we reckon our annual bill will be £250 per year. Quite a saving. Having applied for a meter we have 12 months to change our minds, but can't see that happening!! Most of the charge on a water meter is based on standing charges, so a neighbour who uses twice as much water as me, won't be paying anything like double the bill

Maggie: We have a separate surface water drainage system and found out a few years back that we could claim a discount for not treating rainwater. There was no requirement to submit plans, though. Sounds like your water company is stone-walling to avoid paying up.

I dont really see why we shouldnt pay for water , in the very same way that we pay for electricy and gas ( pay for what we use) I have a meter and see no good reason to want to back track.I have a largish house, the house opposite has 4 children and grandma with them - why should i pay the same as them, as i would have without a meter? jess x

I'm actually due £18 refund - and have been due it every year since moving here 15 years ago. I am charged for 'removal of rainwater', but the water company doesn't remove it - it just soaks into the chalk ( or not - depending on the amount of rain). Found out about this anomolly 5 years ago. Tried to claim it back, but had to send detailed plans of the plumbing/drainage of the house!!! As it's rented, I'm not in posession of such plans. I suppose i could go to the council, but can think of better things to do with my annual leave!!! What is really annoying is that no houses in Winchester built before a certain time have rainwater taken away - and I assume the Water company are well aware of this - just like ripping people off to increase their profits! maggie

I have always said that it is only fare that people pay for what they use, BUT water metres have been talked about since before and including the Maggie Thatcher days, but because people with young family’s on low income and the elderly may struggle with paying the same amount as the rest of us for their water previous governments have decided that water meters for every one would lead to people having to choose between keeping clean or going into debt and this could lead to more diseases in the vulnerable so they have always said that they will not allow compulsory metres, but we now have a government that could not care less so anything could happen. Roy

I'm a firm believer in paying for what you use. The system of charging based on rateable value irrespective of how many in the house is a joke. OK so some families will pay more - why not, if you use more? As for water quality - we are paying for it to be safe to drink, not distilled. Sorry if you live in a hard water area & get scum on your tea, but hard water is actually better for you. If you want to it to be totally free of everything, then get yourself a deionisation system. But don't ask me to pay for it. Where my mum lives in Gtr Manchester, the water reeks of chlorine. I'm sure the smell is because its softer so picks up the chlorine more easily. I'm quite happy here in Yorks having it with some limescale but chlorine-free. While we're on the subject, can someone tell me please the logic of using drinking-quality water to flush the loo?

I agree with Grampa Jim - our Water is disgusting too, probably the worst in the country. We use a Water Filter for one thing because the water straight from the tap tastes vile and chalky and also because the Limescale kills the Kettle - it scales up within a week! Cleaning the Bathroom is a nightmare as the Limescale is so difficult to shift. I do try to conserve water where I can - I don't leave the tap running when I brush my teeth and I only use the Dishwasher and Washing Machine when I have full loads - in an attempt to be environmentally friendly, but the water here is actually very environmentally unfriendly as things like Kettles and Washing Machines have to work overtime to compensate. They also cost me extra money as I have to use more soap and detergent and I have to buy Water Softening Tablets for my Washing Machine and a lot of Salt for my Dish Washer! The Water companies need to look at themselves before they start pointing the finger. Kaye x

there are five in my daugter's family, they have a water meter, their bills are very reasonable the boys are trained to conserve water. we opted to be metered three years ago and paid much less when we changed, it is definitely preferable for smaller households. but it does make you conserve water - not running the tap while cleaning teeth, not overfilling the kettle, not running the dishwasher half empty likewise the washing machine. I use the residue boiling water after making hot drinks to wash up any small things like plates, cutlery, to save putting in the dishwasher. Ann Glos

Well my neighbour has just gone on to a meter and guess what he was borrowing our hose last night to water his garden !! Norah