Treacodactyl
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Compulsory water metersWe've been sent a letter informing us that if we use, amongst other things, a perforated hose then we must have a water meter fitted.
Now, I agree with the principle of water meters in that you pay for what you use. But I don't like the fact that if you use a perforated hose a few times a year to water the veg you're treated worse than someone who wastes water washing cars all the time, filling a massive hot tub and constantly washing the drive/patio with a pressure washer etc. as they don't need a meter for that. 
Although the letter mentions if you can 'show' less than 90% of your water goes down the drain you can get a discount on your sewerage bill it doesn't tell you how. However, if by using a perforated hose the water company assume you're throwing huge volumes of water away why doesn't it automatically reduce your sewerage bill or at the very least tell you exactly how to claim the reduction.
Looks like we'll not be saving water by using a perforated hose then but we'll use more water spraying the garden with the hose as we don't need a meter to do that. Madness. 
I think I'll also ask them why their mains are still lead pipes.
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sally_in_wales
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could you link the perforated hose direct to the bath/shower outlet so that you can demonstrate a use of grey water not mains water for it?
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Treacodactyl
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There's no mention in the stuff they sent us about that and when we've had similar questions in the past about hose-pipe bans and contacted them they haven't been at all helpful.
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Nick
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If it's not their water you're using, they can't bill or meter you, or ban you. So grey water use will be just fine. They've threatened to cut us off several times, even tho' we're not connected to either mains water, or drains.
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Treacodactyl
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I think they can insist we have a meter so unless I answer no to do we want to have an unattended watering device on our property then they will insist we have a meter. Even if I state it will only be used for rain water I bet we would still get one so best not to ask IMO.
One question, what exactly does unattended mean? We can use an attended hose without a meter, does than mean holding the hose, fitting a hose with something that has to be held to get the water flowing or do we just need to be near the hose when it's on?
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Behemoth
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It depends. We have a similar policy on paper but haven't compulsory metered anybody under it at all but then we're not a water stressed area. Technically seep hoses, sprinklers and any irrigation system with a timer are covered. As for the return to sewer, there's already an assumption that 95% of water delivered goes down the sewer. If you think a greater proportion of your water does not return to the sewer phone them up and ask them what to do, most cases are sorted on an individual basis so there wont be a standard form. Unattended sprinklers do put a great strain on the in terms of having to scale the system to allow everybody to come home and turn their sprinkler on and then leave it overnight. Our summer night line, the basline demand on the system when everyone is in bed goes up a lot in a hot summer.
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Treacodactyl
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| Behemoth wrote: | | As for the return to sewer, there's already an assumption that 95% of water delivered goes down the sewer. If you think a greater proportion of your water does not return to the sewer phone them up and ask them what to do, most cases are sorted on an individual basis so there wont be a standard form. |
I understand that but if they are saying that if I have any unattended watering device then I must have a water meter as a large amount of my water usage will be used in the garden then why not at least keep the sewage costs as they are?
I gather they will do a site visit to check you can have a meter so why not offer to sort out the sewage rebate then? The whole tone of the letter certainly doesn't encourage me to save water.
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Behemoth
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Because each case will depend on the individual circumstances. You might find you pay less on a meter and want them to apply metered tarifs to the sewerage element.
Which bunch of amateurs is it? Mad Kent?
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lottie
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How will they know what type of hose you are using----do they have raids to check?
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Behemoth
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The old chairman of Mad Kent used to have a light aircraft and would 'buzz' suspected transgressors!
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Treacodactyl
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| Behemoth wrote: | | Because each case will depend on the individual circumstances. You might find you pay less on a meter and want them to apply metered tarifs to the sewerage element. |
As mentioned, they will survey each property so they can look at individual circumstances.
I looked at the costs and we seem to be about equal on or off a meter but I'm not keen on the hassle of having one installed, as other utilities have caused all sorts of problems in the past with moving meters and replacing infrastructure, and I'm not happy with the terms and conditions of having a meter.
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Behemoth
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No doubt they will, a forward thinking company might have developed a meter/stop tap adapter that can be fitted without interupting the water supply and has automated remote reading capabilities, oh we have!
If they mess you around, give 'em hell!
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Treacodactyl
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| Behemoth wrote: | No doubt they will, a forward thinking company might have developed a meter/stop tap adapter that can be fitted without interupting the water supply and has automated remote reading capabilities, oh we have!
If they mess you around, give 'em hell! |
It's plastic pipe on our side of the stop cock and lead on their side so I expect large amounts of digging and a few days of popping off to find the right parts. Best not ask for one but I'll keep an eye out what they put other people through.
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