How much water do you use? Water bill time...
01 November 2010, 12:41 PM
#1
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How much water do you use? Water bill time...
Just got my 6 monthly bill and apparently we used 23,100 gallons in the last 6 months or as they put it 105 cubic metres 
I find this hard to believe to be quite honest as that sounds an outrageous amount of water
Just interested to compare against others usage to see if it is reasonable.
This is for 2 adults and 3 children - only the kids have baths, me and the Mrs have showers. I don't use a hosepipe during summer (I never wash the cars - too lazy!) and only 1 watering can a day in hot weather on the garden.
The only thing I can think of is the washing machine using loads as that is the most used item in the house.
I find this hard to believe to be quite honest as that sounds an outrageous amount of water
Just interested to compare against others usage to see if it is reasonable.
This is for 2 adults and 3 children - only the kids have baths, me and the Mrs have showers. I don't use a hosepipe during summer (I never wash the cars - too lazy!) and only 1 watering can a day in hot weather on the garden.
The only thing I can think of is the washing machine using loads as that is the most used item in the house.
01 November 2010, 01:12 PM
#4
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Just looked at my last bill.
Only 2 of us living here and rarely use hosepipe and maybe the washing machine twice a week and no dishwasher.
Our 12 months usage was 65 cu metres so i guess your bill is probably about there or there abouts!
Only 2 of us living here and rarely use hosepipe and maybe the washing machine twice a week and no dishwasher.
Our 12 months usage was 65 cu metres so i guess your bill is probably about there or there abouts!
01 November 2010, 01:12 PM
#5
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They put 105 cubic metres and then on the side of the bill it says 1 cubic metre = 1000 litres or 220 gallons.
It only works out about £23 a month so not exactly extortionate although more than what they first set my DD up as but just thought at 23,100 gallons that is ridiculous.
It only works out about £23 a month so not exactly extortionate although more than what they first set my DD up as but just thought at 23,100 gallons that is ridiculous.
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01 November 2010, 02:05 PM
#11
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Nor was I at our last house and was much cheaper and so never gave a thought to what was being used. I guess that's why they now insist on putting meters in so you pay for what you use.
What I don't agree with is the other bill you get which deals with the water leaving your property and having a section for 'run off'. Why the hell should I be paying for if it rains
What I don't agree with is the other bill you get which deals with the water leaving your property and having a section for 'run off'. Why the hell should I be paying for if it rains
That's a big pond!
01 November 2010, 02:20 PM
#15
From memory our last half year bill was £70-80 which includes sewerage costs. I have a rain collection system to flush the toilets. This tank hold 5000 litres, one heavy rain spell and it will fill the tank quite easily. We usually get 4-5 weeks of use without topping up the tank. All my downpipes from the house and garage feed the tank.
Andy
Andy
01 November 2010, 02:31 PM
#16
Average UK water use per person is 150 litres per day, so you're using slightly under the normal amount for a family of 5.
The charge for run-off is for rainwater that gets piped via the public surface water system to a river.
If your run-off goes to soakaway or some other system not linked to the public one then you can claim an allowance.
same with water not returned to foul sewer. If you can prove that more than 10% is not returned then an allowance can be claimed.
The charge for run-off is for rainwater that gets piped via the public surface water system to a river.
If your run-off goes to soakaway or some other system not linked to the public one then you can claim an allowance.
same with water not returned to foul sewer. If you can prove that more than 10% is not returned then an allowance can be claimed.
01 November 2010, 02:35 PM
#17
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We are unmetered up here in Scotland and dont pay water bills. Well we do, but they are part of the council tax payment.
Typical Band D property is just shy of £400pa water/sewerage in my area.
http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/coun...rges.asp#bands
Typical Band D property is just shy of £400pa water/sewerage in my area.
http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/coun...rges.asp#bands
01 November 2010, 02:36 PM
#18
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Average UK water use per person is 150 litres per day, so you're using slightly under the normal amount for a family of 5.
The charge for run-off is for rainwater that gets piped via the public surface water system to a river.
If your run-off goes to soakaway or some other system not linked to the public one then you can claim an allowance.
same with water not returned to foul sewer. If you can prove that more than 10% is not returned then an allowance can be claimed.
The charge for run-off is for rainwater that gets piped via the public surface water system to a river.
If your run-off goes to soakaway or some other system not linked to the public one then you can claim an allowance.
same with water not returned to foul sewer. If you can prove that more than 10% is not returned then an allowance can be claimed.
01 November 2010, 02:42 PM
#19
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4 bed house, 2 adults + a six year old. Dishwasher and washing machine. Never water the garden but occasionally use the pressure washer (but small one) for the car. 3 months was 18 cubic metres.
Remember, about 30% of water use is flushed down the b*g so remember the old saying 'if it's yellow, let it mellow. If it's brown, flush it down' ....
The other thing though is that your sewerage rates are calculated from your water use so when you go from a house with cesspit (and soak-away) as we had to a mains-sewerage place as now then the bills practically double (at least they do in the water rip-off capital of the UK here in Cornwall!).
Dave
Remember, about 30% of water use is flushed down the b*g so remember the old saying 'if it's yellow, let it mellow. If it's brown, flush it down' ....
The other thing though is that your sewerage rates are calculated from your water use so when you go from a house with cesspit (and soak-away) as we had to a mains-sewerage place as now then the bills practically double (at least they do in the water rip-off capital of the UK here in Cornwall!).
Dave
01 November 2010, 02:57 PM
#20
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Thanks for all the replies and cheers Butty for that reply, i'll check how it works where we live as I remember seeing something in the docs that came with the house about some of the houses (our one doesn't) have big drainage tanks under their gardens or something like that.
01 November 2010, 03:01 PM
#21
Aye, not on ameter here either and pay to TWO diferent companies, one for water, one for sewerage.
Ends up costing around 4/3 what it would if just ONE company charged us, as BOTH say the bit THEY do is the most expensive.
Around £470 a year, band D.
Ends up costing around 4/3 what it would if just ONE company charged us, as BOTH say the bit THEY do is the most expensive.
Around £470 a year, band D.
01 November 2010, 03:56 PM
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02 November 2010, 01:43 PM
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02 November 2010, 11:58 PM
#26
These are exempt from surface water charges, so an allowance can be claimed and a potential refund going back six years - although the water company will kick & scream over it.
03 November 2010, 12:50 AM
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03 November 2010, 12:57 AM
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Dont these soakaway systems sooner or later require maintainence / drianage anyway ! ( money)
Last edited by dpb; 03 November 2010 at 10:23 AM.
03 November 2010, 09:25 AM
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Just me and girlf in my house and i pay £24.50 a month on a meter- so that be £294 a year and looking at last 2 bills, one was for 18 cubic metres of water and other was for 20 cubic metres.
So roughly about 114 cubic metres every 6 months.
How the hell do some of you lot use so little water, do you never wash or shower? as i dont think i waste very much but just me and girlf get thro that much
So roughly about 114 cubic metres every 6 months.
How the hell do some of you lot use so little water, do you never wash or shower? as i dont think i waste very much but just me and girlf get thro that much