messiah

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4759960.stm

Only in Kent so far - but how long before we all have to have them

TelBoy

Good

SiPie

After spending time in New Zealand (who are 1,000,000 times more planet aware than most of us) it highlighted just how much water we do waste. ie. leaving the tap on when brushing your teeth. Using hoses and even leaving them running over the pavement when washing cars etc

Think it's a great idea....might make the stupid ones a bit more aware of how much they are wasting

Spoon

I wonder what they will do with the households that can't have meters fitted?

Philip Attaway

You may save money.

Our water bill was £40 a month and now after a meter was installed it's half that.

Phil

OllyK

I'd feel happier about having a water meter imposed (we used to be on one where we lived before) if there weren't millions of gallons of water being pissed away through leaking water mains every year. We have a leak in the road outside that we and the neighbours have been reporting for over 12 months now. When we call to get a follow up, we get "it was raining when the inspection team called and so they could see no evidence of a leak".

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

What's the objection to a water meter? Pay for what you use, no more, no less.

Interesting, the attitude they have to water as a precious resource. Imagine how they'd react to a proposal to provide people with flat rate, unmetered petrol?

Spoon

Deja vous!!

Oh and that'll be good old Severn Trent.

OllyK

£40?? Bloody hell ours was £11 per month on a meter and has now dropped to £7 per month now we are off one.

Spoon

£7/month!! What's that for, a shed?

TelBoy

To be equitable though, either everyone has to be on a meter or everybody has to not be on one. And since water is becoming scarcer in this country, what's the objection to making everyone pay for what they use at an agreed price? All other utilities are charged this way, after all.

OllyK

3 bed detached with a 50m garden.

OllyK

Shame the council tax doesn't work that way - metered so you pay for what you use, I'd be in for a massive rebate, and the breeding farm chavs would be well stuffed

Spoon

I guess it goes on rateable value whatever the size but £7/month is unreal.

The Zohan

I think it is a good idea, however i wonder if the companies are going to keep investing in repaitrs and replacing the leaking pipes taking the precious water to our homes.

TelBoy

Couldn't agree more, i really couldn't.

Philip Attaway

London water must cost more.

Or else you smell and I don't

OllyK

What do you mean "keep"?? They need to start - I'll have a dig for the stats but the amount of water lost due to mains leaks in the UK is terrifying

JackClark

Just got my water bill, £200.00! I want a meter.

OllyK

Here we go:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/st...604129,00.html

800 million gallons per DAY, lost to leaks

The Zohan

That is too true but the chavs are usually on benefit so do not contribute or contribute very little. If this is the case council tax would be reduced greatly.

The people paying in are the working and middle classes - if there is such thing these days but the chavs are not contributing just taking as usual

Spoon

That's for 6 months right?

The Zohan

Now that is a crime!

Having said that water tends to come from the ground, assuming it is leaking back some must be 'recycled' back to the water table?

TelBoy

But they still have to purify it again.

OllyK

While you may not lose water, consider how much money in terms of electricity for pumping and cleanign as well as chemicals etc were used to get that water within meters of your house for it to seep back to where it came from and then need processing all over again. There needs to be an incentive on the water companies to stop the leaks and prevent wastage. Thankfully the gas board aren't quite so lax about repairing their pipes.

speedking

Metering only controls the raw material cost (and sewage disposal), all the standing charges are a significantly larger proportion of the total bill (for me anyway).

sallyb555

Meters are good for a couple living on their own who both work all day therefore not using as much water.

JackClark

It might be in your Mansion and Capability Brown gardens, but for me on my own in a Victorian Terrace with an unwatered garden, bottled water to drink and daily showers it seems a bit much. Thinking about it I only dump at work so that should be a few quid off as well.

Abdabz

Just ploughing through this thread and sheeite - OllyK beat me to it... I was thinking exactly the same

Mrs WRX

**** me, my yearly bill is £390. United Utilites are the most expensive in the UK.