What should water bill be?

[Ricky2]

My monthly standing order for our water has now gone up to £54/month. and we seem to be clocking up 165m3 each year on the meter.

This is for 2 of us (with occasional visits by family) and seems totally out of line with all our neighbours in similar circumstances, so it would appear there is a leak somewhere

Before calling the Water Board to investigate, my fear is that the supply pipe comes under a private (hammerhead) road from the water meter to our house. Who is likely to be responsible for that length of pipe please?

 

[Newboy]

Usual rule is that you are responsible for all the pipework after the meter.

To check for a leak between the meter and your house, turn off the internal stopcock and check if the meter is still registering any flow.

 

[D_Hailsham]

It is estimated that water consumption is about 160 litre per person per day. This includes washing up, washing, baths, toilets etc. So, if there are only two of you, your consumption should be about 120 cubic metres per year, plus some for visitors etc.

As Newboy says, turn of the main stopcock in the house and check that the meter is not moving: take a reading (including the red figures/dial) then check it say 15 minutes later. If the readings have changed, call you Water Supplier and tell them that you suspect a leak. (Then pray that there isn't one as anything after the meter is your responsibility; though it might be covered by your house insurance )

The other things which use up a lot of water are: older washing machines and dishwashers; baths instead of showers; leaving the tap running while cleaning your teeth; etc etc.

 

[Nige F]

Something tells me you`ve got a lot of meters where you are D_ What are you doing home @ 3 on a Friday

 

[D_Hailsham]

Something tells me you`ve got a lot of meters where you are D_ What are you doing home @ 3 on a Friday

What make you think that?

PS I'm retired

 

[Ricky2]

Many many thanks for all the advice gents.

1 We are at home at 3pm (or any other time) as both retired!

2 Followed your advice and checked for leaks. Pleased to say meter reading didn't change at all over a 2-hour period. So the major concern of an expensive u/g leak seems out the picture (phew)

3. We do seem to be major water users (wasters?). Maybe the old Ariston washing machine (14 years and still going strong) is a major user?

Only other thing that crosses my mind is how do I know if the water meter is accurate? SW Water charge £60+VAT to check it if it's found to be in spec

 

[chrishutt]

how do I know if the water meter is accurate?

Buy (£30?) and fit your own water meter at a convenient position on your internal pipework. Not only will you be able to verify the water company's meter readings but, by relocating the meter, you will also be able to check water use for specific ares like bathroom or kitchen.

 

[D_Hailsham]

3. We do seem to be major water users (wasters?). Maybe the old Ariston washing machine (14 years and still going strong) is a major user?

It may be going strong but it is probably using up much more water and electricity compared to modern ones. It might be worth pensioning it off and investing in a new AAA rated one. It should pay for itself in a few years.

Only other thing that crosses my mind is how do I know if the water meter is accurate? SW Water charge £60+VAT to check it if it's found to be in spec

This seems a standard ploy to discourage you from asking for a check. The problem is that to do the job properly the meter has to be removed and sent to a lab for testing.

I had a similar problem to you when I moved house nearly two years ago. My first water bill seemed enormous compared to my last house. Part of the reason was that the old house did not have a meter; water was charged according to the rateable value. Fine if you had 6 people living there; you could use as much water as you liked.

So I phoned the water co and said that I thought I had a leak as my consumption was so high. They came along and did a check and said no there is no leak. I continued to monitor, taking regular readings, and after a few months went back again to the water co. They checked again and said no leak. But the chap who came said that it was an old style meter so it might be that.

The next thing I knew was that I received a card saying that my meter was scheduled for replacement. Co-incidence or what? The main thing was, it didn't cost me a penny.

 

[big-all]

go to the uswitch website
http://www.uswitch.com/Water/index.aspx?sessionid=KHECHN4Iq4R6aiaqyUrfqC7TW+lJaG46&ref=

it has a section for checking your anual consumption
all you do is enter how many time you have a bath clean teeth with runnung water flush toilet ect ect and it will give a rough idea of your consumption

 

[Ricky2]

Fantastic Stuff
Thanks to everyone for the advice
Have started trying to cut back on the waste. Not easy getting out of some of the old habits!!!

 

[Ricky2]

Mr Hailsham's advice turmed out to be invaluable

After waging war with the Water Company they have now agreed to replace my 7-year old meter AND test the old one free of charge

Thanks again

 

[Ricky2]

Now it's getting interesting.

The Water Company change my meter.

Since they did that my water use has gone down from 3m3/week to 2m3/week, which is a hell of a difference. The Water Company however tells me that they have tested my old meter and found it to be working within spec.

The only change we have made was to follow Mr H's advice and renew our 14-year old washing machine with a new enegy-efficient one. That gets used for 6 washes/week.

Is it possible that the this change of machine could account for that much water?

 

[big-all]

may i suggest you dont admit to the water company that anything is any diffirent they may just try and justify the difference by the washing machine alone and deprive you of any rebate you are due

 

[big-all]

went to the uswitch water calculator it said 38 cu m for 6 washes or 15 for water efficient machines

so unless old machines used twice as much water as new standard machines !!!!
if it did that would make 72 cu m down to 15 that would fit in nicely with one cu m reduction a year at 57!!!

 

[htgeng]

Why not install your own rainwater recycling system. You could probably then save an additional 30% of your water by feeding the toilets with 'free' water.