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Compulsory water meter - Robert Damon-Aspen (28th Jun 2013  13:57:23) Just received brochure from Southeast Water and their compulsory meter project. I've had a water meter before and compared to unmetered you get to pay a much higher price for using the same amount of water. Went to their website and filled out their water meter consumption checker. Our unmetered bill is now £195.00. The metered bill will be £415.00!! This doesn't include sewerage costs which are separate in either case. I completed the checker by stating I never washed the car with a hose, never watered the garden with a hose, always took showers, never left the tap running etc etc but still the bill will come to £415.00. What are your thoughts ?

Re: Compulsory water meter - Jane (28th Jun 2013  15:04:43) Hmmm yes I got one of these today too. Too scared to do any online checker, as with 2 teenagers and 2 power showers in the house this isn't looking good for our household budget!

Re: Compulsory water meter - Robert Damon-Aspen (28th Jun 2013  16:08:36) Hi Jane..if you go to www.makingeverydropcount.co.uk that's where you will find the online calculator. Further, if you click on 'difficulty paying your bill' there is a phase in option which allows you to phase in the likely increased bills over a 2 and a half year period. It looks like they discount the bill by the increased amount you have to pay over this period to let you get accustomed to the higher price. I'm a cynical old bugger and believe this has nothing to do with saving water its just a sneaky way of increasing prices. It'll take a real change in your water usage to keep the bill to its current rate. I worked out with the calculator that if you don't use the bath, the shower, the garden hose and wash yourself from a sink and wash dishes from a bowl and clean your teeth in a glass of water you might just make it!

Re: Compulsory water meter - Andy (28th Jun 2013  16:41:26) Welcome to our world. We've been on a meter for 6 years so think of the additional amount we have had to pay in that period. Others will have effectively been subsidising your low charges. Those are my thoughts - either everyone is metred or nobody is, it has to be the same for everyone.

Re: Compulsory water meter - Darren (28th Jun 2013  17:51:01) We moved into our present house and had to pay £66.00 a month for water and sewage. Had a meter installed as soon as we could and we now pay £15.00 a month. Some people win, some lose but it's only fair that you pay for the water you use in my opinion, just like you do for Gas, Electric.etc.

Re: Compulsory water meter - Eneida Nelson (28th Jun 2013  18:54:47) We do not have a water meter and our latest bill for water and sewage came to £410.83p. I can't understand why Mr Damon-Aspen was only paying £195.00!! [editor]His figure did NOT include sewage[/editor]

Re: Compulsory water meter - Mike G (29th Jun 2013  17:51:51) It always makes me smile that it somehow seems wrong to be charged £1.50 a cubic meter (1000 litres) for water delivered to your home. How many are quite happy to spend £1.20 on 500ml of water at WH Smith on Waterloo Station. That is £2400 a cubic meter and you have to go and pick it up. If the latter were the only choice, then your annual water bill would be £640,000 plus delivery.

Re: Compulsory water meter - Mary W (30th Jun 2013  12:20:12) Can't remember the figures exactly, but our water bill was much cheaper after the meter than before.

Re: Compulsory water meter - FJ (30th Jun 2013  16:06:25) Regarding the metering of water, surely it is a much fairer way of paying for the water you use. Why should a person living on their own pay the same amount as a family with two or three teenagers . When you have a meter fitted it certainly makes you think about the amount of water you use.

Re: Compulsory water meter - JTS Civil Engineers Ltd (2nd Jul 2013  10:32:47) We are in the business of repairing or renewing leaking water supply pipes. I am often asked by customers the benefits and disadvantages of being on a water meter as opposed to having their water charges determined by the rateable value of their properties. Potable water is a commodity like any other household utility. In our experience the majority of people are much better off financially on a meter. You pay for what you use and the outgoing sewerage charges are linked to the metered water coming in. One cubic meter of water is written as 1 M3, 1000 litres or 220 gallons in old money and costs £1.15 per M3. This equates to ½ a penny per gallon of pure clean water delivered to your home. TWU (Thames Water Utilities) or SW (Southern Water) dependent on where you live, are responsible for the outgoing sewage. If your water is metered they charge 7 pence per M3 measured in. If your supply pipe develops a leak and you are not metered you may not notice it as most leaks do not come to the surface. Water leaking under pressure underground can and does cause substantial consequential damage to properties. Leaks on supply pipes can go for years undetected whereas if you are on a meter the leak can be brought to your attention through a higher than normal bill. The pipe can be repaired or preferably renewed and most standard insurance policies cover you for that peril. The fact remains up to 30% of water which has been pumped up from aquifers, chlorinated and pumped out in the network goes to waste through unidentified leakage. To conclude, most customers, especially single and married pensioners are far better off on a meter. If you have a problem with your water supply and need a reputable contractor to offer free advice and quotations find JTS Civil Engineers Ltd in Checkatrade or visit WWW,WRAS.co.uk and look for a WRAS approved “Groundworker”. Jock Trodden Distribution Engineer

Re: Compulsory water meter - ellie (2nd Jul 2013  11:50:23) I do not pay for sewerage and have been sent details of an intended water meter. How would that work if I pay to have sewage taken away from the property separately?

Re: Compulsory water meter - Jock Trodden (4th Jul 2013  18:23:13) Hi Ellie, For those of you who have a septic tank you are only charged for the water you use. There are no other charges with the exception of a standing charge from your water supplier. If you need you septic tank emptied out more than once in 18 months then you may have a problem with the septic tank soakaway which can become "sludged up” . You can either drop some road kill into the tank as they did many years ago or there are biological additives which can be flushed down the loo once a week to assist in the production of bacterial enzymes within the tank which devour the solids, facieses, paper and fat reducing them to a relatively clear water. To dose a tank and keep it topped up would cost approximately 20 pence per week. I understand the only place these can be bought locally is Greatham Village Stores. 01420 538886. An air pump can be retro fitted to any existing septic tank system to greatly aid the process. If you consider how much money a septic tank can save over the years it’s worth spending a bit from time to time keeping the tank “healthy”. Every day detergents and bleaches kill off the bacteria on which the good working order of the tank depends. Many thanks Jock Trodden

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