water metering and the law

we dont have a meter, but I understood it is a choice thing in this area anyway.

We have 4 bed house and do use hosepipe and dishwasher, yet our friends in smaller house admittedly but still wtih 3 loos and dishwasher do pay less than us.

cant understand whenim why you would not be better off with meter.

I decided to leave it for another year but or authority will instal meter and let you change back if not happy after year.

cant lose really.

I live in the South West Water area, and have a meter. (The house was built in 2005, so no choice.)

We are very happy with it, I compared with some friends who don't have one, their water rates are calculated on the ratable value of their property, and they pay more per month than we do in a quarter!

We have had a water meter for several years and we are still paying less than we did when we started, so I know we have saved money. We are, however, careful about use which is no bad thing (although as I am in the North East and it is currently flooded a few miles away, I do wonder sometimes ....)

The water industry is regulated by OFWAT and any price rises have to be justified to them and approved.

Same here, when - not surprising because we live in the same water area in similar sized houses. When I was alone in a 4-bed house, I was very much quids in - until DSs returned from travels with partners, but fortunately only for a short period.

whenim64, it depends where you live. Some areas, like the south west, I believe, have very high water charges so the break even level is quite high.

Other people get caught because they have unknown leaks in the water supply pipe under ground on their side of the meter. I can remember someone on the radio once who had had a meter bill twice as high as before she had the meter fitted and, after an investigation found a leak in her water supply pipe under the garden found her bills reduced to a quarter of what they had been before.

We've had a water meter for about 18 months and definatly are saving money. My DS & DIL and 2 infants also save money with a meter. We don't make any effort to save water just carry on as normal.

I've had a water meter since the spring and think [hope] that I'm saving money by doing so. What concerns me about everyone having to have a meter is will they start cranking up the cost of water [the way they do with gas, elecricity and petrol]? Of course, it's been so wet I haven't had to water the garden and my son has completely moved out so I don't use much these days.

I can't have a water meter, but having done the sums with a helpful person at United Utilities, and checked the calculator several times over, it's clear that I would pay more if I did. I live in a small cottage and theoretically should profit from having one, but I would pay about £30 more per annum. It's a puzzle but I'm not objecting. I don't use a hosepipe, only take showers and now I don't have a dish washer. The calculation seems to take me below the water meter usage scale, so always falls on the right side of not having a meter. Good job I don't want a swimming pool!

And who knows, unless you are an avid car washer and lawn sprinkler, you just might save money. All new properties have been automatically metered for a very long time now.

Come on, own up. You abbiously have a swimming pool or a reverse osmosis whatsit

Oh thanks - so we live in a water stressed area I guess - you wouldn't think so though this summer and the last couple of days!

www.ofwat.gov.uk/mediacentre/leaflets/prs_lft_101117meters.pdf

Your question is answered on this ... about page 19 ( or thereabouts)