abwsco Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 We've had a water meter fitted just over a week ago to see if we can reduce our large RV bill. In record time I should add as well of just over a week. Just wondered for those on meters what's your consumption for the year. One calculator said we'd not save and then another one did Also, what hints and tips do you have. Ordered the free saver pack available to us but there's a wait of up to a month for that. Not much use when the meter was fitted so quickly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gertie Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 We had a change of occupancy meter in the last house. I was terribly worried about how much the first bill would be, as a consequence used very little water. Can't exactly recall how much it cost tho (sorry not much help)! I ordered flush savers for the loo, it was a kind of bag that filled with water inside the cistern, and also a sachet of gel type crystals that expands. I had 3 water butts for rainwater channelled off the garage roof. I saved a bucket of bath water for a toilet flush or cleaning with. I saved a jug of bath water for rinsing out the bath. Washing - saved it up and did economy loads. I used to use any half drunk cups of water to water house plants with. I had a shower timer which was 3 minutes. I had a squirty gun thing on the hose so I only used water when & where I needed it. Gross one - we shared the bath water (not strictly necessary I'm sure and I would NEVER get in second!!!) The water company were very helpful at giving me examples of what average family used and costs etc. Also, make sure you've got no drips or unseen leaks, like overflowing toilet cistern etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted May 18, 2012 Author Share Posted May 18, 2012 Gertie, we've always shared bath water unless one of us has been particularly dirty. Stems from childhood when an immersion tank had to be used which cost loads to run. We've got one water butt but are struggling with where to place another. Consumption hasn't been too bad so far. My free water saver pack still hasn't arrived Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 I live on my own, so my consumption is perhaps not typical, but I pay around £150 per year. I have water butts, only two at the moment though I keep meaning to get a third, and I try to use them for watering the garden although I use the hose to clean the Eglu. I don't water stuff that doesn't need it - I never water the lawn, for example, or established perennials/shrubs unless it's an exceptionally dry period, but I water vegetable crops and pots/hanging baskets. In the house, I wait till the dishwasher is full - I regret that the one I have now doesn't have a 'single tray' option. Ditto the washing-machine, I try and do a full load, and I shower most days and only use the bath occasionally, although I don't stint on that if a fancy a bath as it's a real relaxation for me. And I only flush the loo occasionally - in the last water shortage, Ken Livingstone had a phrase for Londoners 'if it's yellow, let it mellow; if it's brown, flush it down' and I subscribe to that, unless I have visitors! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gertie Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 As a child sharing bath water was a regular experience. I was always last and the nightmare of luke warm grey water with hair & matter floating in it it still with me Happy to share mine with others but not get in others water! We still share as we have coal fired heating...slow to heat water when out all day at work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 We share bath water, but no more than two people usually use the same water. ED has just rebelled against this and chooses to shower. I grew up doing this, I would get first bath in an evening followed by my parents, we had a boiler on our woodburner and hot water was a very valuable commodity. I use rain water for the garden as much as I can and we have big water containers that catch rain water at the allotment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 Just come across this... We're on a water meter and are quite conscious of saving water where we can eg using washing up water on the garden, saving up 'leftover' water from kettle and cups and using for plants etc. We had a shockingly high bill last quarter though as our toilet cistern had been leaking through to the bowl but we hadn't realised (it wasn't noisy or flushing itself etc). The previous bill had been an estimated reading so the loo had probably been doing this for up to six months and the bill was nearly four times the usual amount. So, my advice is check for drips and leaks and ALWAYS check when you get an estimated reading!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted June 24, 2012 Author Share Posted June 24, 2012 Oh no, what a nightmare Looney Luckily for us our meter is inside and we do check it daily just in case. Biggest changes for us have been buying a water butt and not flushing loo unless really needed. Submitted online reading after a month on the meter and our charges have more than halved. Am STILL waiting for the free water saver pack to arrive though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
