Hopesy Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 The environment agency wants to fit water meters to every home apparently. This is an attempt to try to conserve water as they predict we will be having hotter dryer summers. Where have they been living? :D *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J9withdogs Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 That'll be the global warming then? Oh sorry, it's called climate change now isn't it? That's because they can't make their mind up whether they can charge more for it getting hotter or colder. Having a water meter fitted, however, has saved me a small fortune. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 I don't think it's much to do with drier summers, more the increasing number of households and usage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 We have a water meter on every home we've owned since the mid seventies and in every case it has save us hundreds of pounds on the rateable value water rates so I am quite happy for those of you who are paying too much for your water to go on subsidising me. Many thanks - much appreciated! This might not be true in every case but it does pay to enquire and check it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J9withdogs Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Wouldn't it make sense for the water companies to invest more in the storage of rainwater? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 J9withdogs - 2009-03-30 12:48 PM Wouldn't it make sense for the water companies to invest more in the storage of rainwater? They already do - they call them reservoirs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelvynT Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 We've had a water meter for about 4 years, it's saved us quite a bit of money. To cut mains water usage even further we store about 1200Lts of rainwater for the greenhouse, gardens, car and motorhome washing. All the plants are in the garden not in pots, even the tomatoes grow into the soil, I renew the top 6" with peat free compost every year which is covered by used compost bags. Even in the dizzy heights of summer, the greenhouse uses only 45Lts a week (20 tomato plants). Saves on back ache as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordThornber Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 We used United Utilities online calculator to see if my Mother would make any savings with a meter. It was fairly obvious that she would, no hosepipe, washer on once a week, twice at the most, lives alone etc. Sure enough her bills have dropped by 60%. Not for us though, 2 people, 2 vehicles to (occasionally), wash etc etc. Our bills would rise with a meter according to the "webtest". Have a go.. http://www.unitedutilities.com/WaterMeterCalc.htm Martyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hymer C 9. Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Just filled the form out Martyn says we would save about £120 will have to think about it when we get back, thanks for the link. Carol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordThornber Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Hello Carol, I believe you can have it taken out, (the meter!), if it doesn't cut the mustard for you, although that may not apply to all suppliers. Martyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spospe Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Martyn We are supplied by United Utilities and have a water meter. The deal was that we could have the meter removed at any time during the first 12 months, but not after that time. Once a year has passed, the meter has to stay (at least with our supplier). Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howie Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 All for conservation of course, and while meters will offer savings in the short turn believe that once enough are installed then prices will rise to at least as much we now pay in water rates. Utility company!. Conservation v Profits?. Put me down as being of a cynical nature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Thanks for the link Martyn. I've just put our typical usage in and it reckons our bill will go UP by 20% so I will not be volunteering for a water meter in the foreseeable future. Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 We had a water meter installed a few years back, when they were doing it 'for free'. As we could pay monthly we decided it would be a good idea to see if we would be better off, we had nothing to lose. We had to agree to pay for metered water for 1 year, after which we could then decide if we wanted to keep it being metered, or revert to unmetered (the meter would stay put) as it's buried in the ground. During that 'test' year it was a ruddy nightmare, they constantly adjusted the monthly water bill, we thought it would settle down after a few months, but it was up and down like a ruddy yo-yo for the whole year! We are quite frugal generally with our water but when it came to the end of the year, we found that even though we had been saving more than ever (and in some cases we took it tooooooo far ... sorry, I can't get a nice bath in 4 inches of water ... and I DO like a bath not a shower!) we would have been worse off with the meter. One reason is that our water tank is located to the side of the property, the kitchen is at one end and the bathroom at the opposite side to the boiler at the other and to get water to either the kitchen or bathroom means drawing off a fair bit of cold water first which unfortunately we can't do anything about. Add to this that we're having to wash our hairy little monster nightly and also do more washes of his towels etc and it soon adds up. I've just re-checked our 'usage' and it's still questionable as to whether we'd benefit or not so unless it becomes compulsory, I'm sticking to being unmetered thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnP Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 We had a water meter installed for free about six years ago. I am quite happy to pay the £6.00 a month that the utility company are charging me. For anyone wondering, I use my washer three times a week and the dish washer four times a week and bath not shower. MH, car washing and garden use rain water from roof into storage tanks. To save a bit more money check on your bill if you are being charged for the disposal of rain water into the main sewer. You may find that if your rainwater discharges into a soak-a-way you do not have to pay for this service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mendipman Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 :-D :-D Back in the early 90,s I paid £800 a year water rates on my lockup shop,fitted a meter (!) (!) (!) £66 a year (!) (!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W3526602 Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 One reason is that our water tank is located to the side of the property, the kitchen is at one end and the bathroom at the opposite side to the boiler at the other and to get water to either the kitchen or bathroom means drawing off a fair bit of cold water first which unfortunately we can't do anything about. Add to this that we're having to wash our hairy little monster nightly and also do more washes of his towels etc and it soon adds up. Hi. I think the way round the cold water problem is to have a loop back to the hot tank, so water in pipe is always hot. I'm not sure how that hits your gas bill (lots of insulation on pipe?) or if it works with a condensing boiler. Probably academic. My neighbour (on benefits) managed to get his oil central heating changed to gas, and his house connected to gas, all for free? How? The oil boiler was not able to supply three bathfuls of water in quick succession. All of his children (3,5, and 8) needed a bath before going to bed. The story gets better, but is probably too OT. 602 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basil Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 Keithl - 2009-03-30 8:33 PM Thanks for the link Martyn. I've just put our typical usage in and it reckons our bill will go UP by 20% so I will not be volunteering for a water meter in the foreseeable future. Keith. Agree, yes the link was very helpful. We have been listening to all the hype and were considering having one put in. After using the calculator that will now be a definate NO, if it is to be believed our water costs would more than double!! Definately not for us until we are forced. Thing is I don't believe we waste any water, there are now three of us in the household who normally only shower (bath only used occasionally if we need to use the whirlpool for pain remedy), use the toilet, machine wash clothes and dishes (both 'A' rated modern machines), we NEVER water the garden by hose or watering can (if pot plants need water we use ex washing up water) and that usage on a meter has doubled our bill by the calculator. Quite worrying for people who use a lot more than us I would think. Bas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapido-lass Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 My neighbour (on benefits) managed to get his oil central heating changed to gas, and his house connected to gas, all for free? How? The oil boiler was not able to supply three bathfuls of water in quick succession. All of his children (3,5, and 8) needed a bath before going to bed. The story gets better, but is probably too OT. 602 Personally I find this disgusting............. since when does that need to be paid for by us? why can't they bath them in turn in one bath like in the old days or spread bath time out over the early evening? What will they expect next? someone to come in and read them a bed time story? How do they think everyone else copes? I'm sorry but it smacks of pure greed from people who expect everything handed on a plate at our expense. Previous generations who had to use a tin bath in front of the fire would be turning in their graves, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mendipman Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 (!) My mum stuck me in a tin bath in the war,I am still here (!) (!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 mendipman - 2009-04-03 2:09 PM (!) My mum stuck me in a tin bath in the war,I am still here (!) (!) Obviously she didn't seal the lid tight enough!!! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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