compulsory water meters - Page 2

James1234 · 08-02-2008, 05:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by steeljack

most water meters are just "flow meters" which work in either direction, all you need is a spanner to flip it around 180 degrees for 2/3rd's of any metering period , just make sure you use a similar thread sealant (tape or pipe dope) as the water company

I wonder what they'd say if you sent them a bill? you never know if ya lucky they might just pay you!

panther · 08-02-2008, 10:20

How much water do you use? Find out on uSwitch.com

this may be helpful, and toilet flushing costs the most

If we did have to have meters put in, we certainly wouldnt take it for granted thats for sure.

claytonender · 08-02-2008, 10:21

All new houses already have water meters fitted - I think water meters were installed in all new houses from about 1990 onwards, as all new build after the ontroduction of the 'Poll Tax' no longer had a rateable value, so water companies could not base their tariff on the Rateable Value of your home.

I moved into this house in Novemeber 1992 (when it was first built) and have always had a water meter. I currently get bills twice a year and in 2007 paid about £200 (that is for 2 people). I know that my next bill is due this month. Over the last 15 years I have had several bills that have been calculated wrongly, and have had to ring and query the bill and asking for a full breakdown of how they arrived at their charges.

MargaretR · 08-02-2008, 10:34

I am a single person in a band A 1 bedroom flat - pay £228
I was suprised that the Uswitch estimated that with a meter I would pay £40+ more.
My Hyndburn Homes landlord is due to upgrade my bathroom this year, so I am hoping to get a shower added, and a more efficient toilet (that doesn't need more than 1 flush at any time

)

I dont have a garden to water. The rules about 'paving over' are to prevent overloading of drains and flash floods, but I think that taking the 'planning permission' route is too beaurocratic - perhaps an increased sewerage levy would be less cumbersome to administer, and would make people think twice before paving.

jackyalex · 08-02-2008, 10:40

My house was built in 1995 and has no water meter, i dont want one either, whilst you have young children in the house (think its 16 and under) you pay no more than someone who doesnt have a meter, you have to ask your local water company for what reductions you are entitled to as i think if your on a low income your water rates can be reduced or have a set price instead of a pay as you use

panther · 08-02-2008, 11:08

im only paying £17 amonth on my water that makes it £170 a year,(i pay over 10 months), so i cant see a meter being cheaper for me, so i dont want one either

jaysay · 08-02-2008, 11:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by [email protected]

I am a single person in a band A 1 bedroom flat - pay £228
I was suprised that the Uswitch estimated that with a meter I would pay £40+ more.
My Hyndburn Homes landlord is due to upgrade my bathroom this year, so I am hoping to get a shower added, and a more efficient toilet (that doesn't need more than 1 flush at any time

)

I dont have a garden to water. The rules about 'paving over' are to prevent overloading of drains and flash floods, but I think that taking the 'planning permission' route is too beaurocratic - perhaps an increased sewerage levy would be less cumbersome to administer, and would make people think twice before paving.

I'm like you Margaret, but I already have a shower. I have been toying with the idea of a water metre for a few years, I've heard pluses and minuses, so I may just toy wit the idea a little longer

jackyalex · 08-02-2008, 11:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by panther

im only paying £17 amonth on my water that makes it £170 a year,(i pay over 10 months), so i cant see a meter being cheaper for me, so i dont want one either

My bill is £330 per year, thats for a family of 5 living in a 3 bed house, its the set price for us and its not based on how much we use, my friend who lives down the road lives in a bigger house but its a 2 bed and there is only 3 of them and she pays £178 per year, for 2 extra kids im paying almost half more than her. im not sure how they work it out but thats what we have to pay

WillowTheWhisp · 08-02-2008, 11:59

Water may well fall free from the sky but the pipes which bring it into our homes and the sewerage pipes which take the waste away are not free. We also expect our tap water to be clean and drinkable with no nasty bugs and nothing to make us ill when we drink it or wash up in it. That doesn't come free.

Unless someone intends only to use rainwater and to dispose of their waste water on their garden and have a hole in the garden for composting their human waste then there is absolutely no justification for not paying water rates.

However, I do object to the idea of being forced to have a water meter and I do object to all the water which goes to waste when we have heavy rainfalls and then being told we need to cut back on use because we're having a drought. That was a very wet drought that we had last summer.

WillowTheWhisp · 08-02-2008, 12:05

I've just done that survey link thingy and ours would be more than twice as much!

jackyalex · 08-02-2008, 12:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

I've just done that survey link thingy and ours would be more than twice as much!

I have just done it too, i put in my postcode and it doesnt have my water company on there, it just has yorkshire

Stanleymad · 08-02-2008, 12:36

My old house had a compulsory water meter [new build 1997] it was surprisingly cheap worked out eventually at £150 max per year even less, always ended up with a rebate cos they over charged me per month. Now in no water meter house band b area & my bills are about £350 per year, but worked my usuage out on that link & the meter bill was estimated at £512 yet my usuage came to £217 which is less that the billed, yet says i dont need to bother with meter to make savings

MargaretR · 08-02-2008, 12:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stanleymad

My old house had a compulsory water meter [new build 1997] it was surprisingly cheap worked out eventually at £150 max per year even less, always ended up with a rebate cos they over charged me per month. Now in no water meter house band b area & my bills are about £350 per year, but worked my usuage out on that link & the meter bill was estimated at £512 yet my usuage came to £217 which is less that the billed, yet says i dont need to bother with meter to make savings

It looks as though the Uswitch site is not showing proper calculations of actual costs

I have looked on Money Saving Expert site and Uswitch site is the only comparison site he mentions as available for the calculation,

I have looked on United Utilities site for 'assessed bills' which you can have when meters are not practical (flats with shared main) and the charge shown for me would have me paying more!

shillelagh · 08-02-2008, 12:42

Just done the questionaire on uswitch - having a meter would save me £112 per year. Might just have one put in!!! Probably does help that living on my own, not washing up every day, just use the washer when i have a full load, the only problem is that it dont take my brews into account - probably double it if i counted all the brews!!!!

Stanleymad · 08-02-2008, 14:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by [email protected]

It looks as though the Uswitch site is not showing proper calculations of actual costs

I have looked on Money Saving Expert site and Uswitch site is the only comparison site he mentions as available for the calculation,

I have looked on United Utilities site for 'assessed bills' which you can have when meters are not practical (flats with shared main) and the charge shown for me would have me paying more!

I did enquire with UU last year about it & they said best to keep me on bill than meter for the time being as wouldnt make savings as such