{"id":7790,"date":"2024-01-17T09:24:36","date_gmt":"2024-01-17T09:24:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mouthymoney.co.uk\/?p=7790"},"modified":"2025-03-03T08:58:21","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T08:58:21","slug":"how-to-save-money-on-your-water-bills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mouthymoney.co.uk\/budgeting\/how-to-save-money-on-your-water-bills\/","title":{"rendered":"How to save money on your water bills"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Nick Daws advises on UK water bills, exploring meter benefits, suggesting water-saving practices, and highlighting assistance programs for financial relief.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In Britain we\u2019re lucky to have high-quality running water on tap whenever we need it. LIke everything else in life it costs money, however. And in these times of rising prices and squeezed incomes, those costs can be a growing burden. So in this article I\u2019ll be setting out some ways you may be able to reduce your water bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first thing to say is that water pricing varies across the nations of the UK. In England and Wales, unless you have a water meter, the price you pay will depend on the rateable value of your home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Scotland, again unless you have a meter, you will pay a standard water charge with your council tax. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Domestic customers in Northern Ireland are fortunate in that they aren\u2019t required to pay a water bill at all (though this may change in future, with a range of options for introducing household water charges in NI having recently been put out to public consultation<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should You Get a Water Meter?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The average water bill for unmetered customers is currently around \u00a3450 a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re on a low income, that can represent a significant chunk of your money. And unlike gas and electricity, you can\u2019t just shop around for a better deal with a different supplier. You may, though, be able to make significant savings by having a water meter installed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a meter, you are of course charged according to how much water you use. A good rule of thumb here is that if your house has more bedrooms than occupants or the same number, it is definitely worth looking into getting a meter installed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, people vary considerably in how much water they use. So you can use  this free online calculator<\/a> from the Consumer Council for Water to check whether you are likely to save money with a meter. It asks a series of questions about your home and your water usage and reveals the estimated cost you would pay if you had a meter. You can then compare this with what you are paying currently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that in England and Wales (though not Scotland) water companies will normally install a water meter free of charge if requested. Even better, they will usually let you switch back to unmetered within 12 or even 24 months if you find you are paying more with a meter than you were before. You should check with your water company<\/a> to find out their policy about this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n