Water Bills

[Jennykenny]

Our local council has forced us to have a water meter and our bills are now higher than before.
Two adults, one shower each per day, how can that add up to £500.00 plus a year?
The meter is in the pavement outside the house, and making sure everything was off, including central heating/hot water in case this was a factor, I prised the lid off and the little central dial was going round - indicating usage???
Any thoughts?

[factor-fiction]

You must have a leak then. Our bill fell from £800 a year to under £300 when we installed a meter - and although we use water carefully we have 2-3 adults here on average and fairly regular evening baths and daily showers.
There are online calculators from the water companies where you type in data such as number of baths, showers, toilet flushes, washing machines, dishwashes etc and it gives agood estimate of teh cost. Try that and see how far away from £500 a year

[EcclesCake]

Hell! I don't pay £400 per annum for water so an increase like that would be pretty alarming.

If the wheel is turning when there is not tap on there must be a leak. Call your water supplier and get them into check things over.

[EcclesCake]

Actually I meant to say I pay ~£200 per annum.

Do get checked out as that is horrendous.

[factor-fiction]

Are you sure it was your meter though- I've heard of cases where residents living close together were confused about which meter was which

[factor-fiction]

I doubt a water meter would get your bills down to £200 though- the standing charge elements of our water bill is over 3120 a year and that's before we use a drop of water at a little under £3 a cubic metre (that £3 covers the water in and the water out)

[factor-fiction]

That 3120 should have said £120!

[Old_Jim]

If you turned everything else and the meter is still running, it means you have a leak in your supply pipe. Get it fixed or you're paying money to water your garden. You may find that your home insurance covers it.

[craft1948]

There's only me (and the dog) but my metered water bill is £144 a year.

[EcclesCake]

I pay £17 per month for water.

[theshedman]

Never knew a council could force you into having a meter fitted but if it is still moving after turning off everything then as others have said you must have a leak somewhere. We only have 3 living at home these days and switched to a meter and our bills have more than halved since getting a meter fitted. We now only pay around £500 a year.

[Kathyan]

I only pay £16 per month. There are two of us and we shower every day!

[Jennykenny]

Thanks to you all. Glad to see that you are all horrified, and yes, theshedman, unfortunately, you can be forced to have one. Interestingly, we are in a row of three terraced houses, and our neighbour two doors down has asked for a metre and the council have refused.

[ivor4781]

the council can't tell anyone they cant have a meter you just apply to your water company and they say if it can fit one or its too difficult

[Wak]

My daughter's neighbour had a meter fitted and was shocked at the high price being charged. They later checked and found that the mains water supply was connected to both his house and my daughter's and he was actually paying for both houses. It can happen!!!

[Jennykenny]

Thanks Zebuk, that was very helpful (and scary!).

[hc4361]

Councils and water boards can and do force homeowners to have water meters

[welshlibranr]

we have a meter, two of us in the property, and we water the garden in Summer too, our bill for a year was £248, sounds like you do have a leak, there are often leaks and faulty meters too, my daughter left her property last year and it was unoccupied for 7 weeks, she got a bill for £239, there were no leaks inside, and by the time to leak was mended by the water board the bill was about £700, which because it was the house side of the meter, they could have made her pay, but thankfully they did credit her with the cost, best to get your meter and pipework checked asap..........