General Chat

Seems that we are all being told to have water meters fitted. So many people have told me that I can see a large reduction in my annual bill that it is worth doing. So ............. if the price of water is going up to meet the development needs of our water companies, how are they going to exist if everyone is paying less with their shiny meters ? From my way of thinking, as us rocket scientists do, once everyone is metered they will double, treble the cost of water to cover the lack of income from us users. ..... and with hosepipe ban for starters there will be a lot of dirty cars about - unless supermarket car cleaners are exempt. Then there will be wilting flowers .......... thirsty trees, subsidence ...... No end to it all. Not to mention rationing water via standpipes - hmmmm Dirty .....

ah Joe.... except for us larger families.... who has the washing machine on every day, the toilet constantly flushing and about 5 showers a day plus about 5 baths a week and enough washing up water to fill a resevoir twice a year! lol i guess we may be making up for some of the singletons....

I moved to a newish house two years ago with a water meter and I can assure you the price of my water has not been reduced far from it. I have two kids and I suppose I would use a washing machine more often than those without and I do have a dishwasher that is not used everyday, I am not a gardener so do not use a hosepipe for the garden. Where I used to pay about £180 a year pre meter I am now paying £240 average with one.

You are absolutely right on all counts. Rupert

Well I had a meter fitted 2 years ago and my bills were halved - but I hear what you are saying ............... And as for standpipes and rationing - this lot all laughed at me last summer when I impulse bought a collapsable 20L water container ............. wise purchase me thinks lolol

Em So it's you to blame !! Glad we got down to the source of all our problems.

oops :((

I have one and save about £300 a year xx they do make you more careful not to waste xx

Two of us, no kids, no dishwasher, water bill about £200 pa with a meter (Yorkshire) it was over £500 before. My mum lives in a small bungalow & hers is about £150 a year, again saving tons on what it was before. I don't think its really the amount of money they make, its to make you be a lot more careful about how much you use. I save the washing up water for the plants etc etc. A water butt for saving rainwater is a must if you have a lot of bedding plants.

I agree Howie, but very difficult to put in practice with several daughters chained to the bathroom,

Joe, we had a water meter installed about 3 yrs ago. As there are now only 2 of us here, our water bill has halved. Our sewer bill has also halved, because your sewer bill is affected by how much water you use when you have a water meter, so at the moment we are quids-in. How it would be for a larger family though, I don't know. Stella

Ok for these water companies to urge us to not waste water. Most of the wastage is caused by them not dealing with leaks in their supply pipes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have tried to use less but like Em with kids about there is not a lot of chance of that. I suppose I will just have to pay up and shut up. I guess meters are a fair way to deal with it rather than a council tax house price related system.

yes, and use the polar ice caps that are melting too....

not sure if I got an answer to this question on the council tax thread. Couldnt find it so here goes again At the present time as I understand it people in tax band A pay les for their water than those living in tax band D so if they both had water meters fitted would the price per unit be the same for both households or will tax band D be charged more per unit than tax band A Just using those as an example. We dont have a water meter yet and when we have thought about moving up a bracket my hubby always says that the water bil as well as the council tax will be more but if they were metered then maybe not so.........

can we stop them though? or have we left it too late

so it does not matter what property you live in as everybody from the same water board will be charged the same per cubic meter?

Em I do understand your plight my kids have now left home so i know all about kids and bathrooms xxxxx

I have had a water meter for 10 years.Forgot what i used to pay as a water rate.I think its a fair way.Before i had a water meter the single lady next door paid the same bill as me and i had 4 kids. Annie

Thank you so now my hubby cant use that as a plus for not moving!!!

I don't think the band on your council tax affects the amount you pay for water rates. It's just lumped in with your tax bill as they collect on behalf of the water companies. All households in the same areas should be paying the same rate - regardless of the house alue - if not you council is doing something wrong. Zoe