WATER RATES

[KevB]

We all love to tend and care for our plants, BUT how much does it cost for water, my bills just keep going up and up! they charge for supplying and taking it away (sewerage and drains) they have NO competition and consequently just increase it virtually without question! (there is OFWAT) but they dont appear strong! Last years total was £563 while the supposed average for my area is £335.
so it says in this link from the Telegraph.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/03/31/nwater31.xml

Whats the answer, and whats your bills, how do you cope on allotments as this is my home bill. largish garden and 3 adults! United Utilities here in NW. they collect wearing a bandits mask and bandana!
Thanks for putting up with this tirade, i feel a bit better now! Hope to see others voice their "reasoned thoughts"
Cheers KevB

[KevB]

[ACE]

I am lucky enough to be on a water meter, it makes you more careful with water, 3 adults, washing machine, dishwasher, showers, (no baths) dual flush wc's. I do not use it in the garden apart from topping up the pond in really hot weather and wash the 4 cars every 6-8 weeks. About £280 a year.

[Robert_Brenchley]

That's privatisation for you.

[KevB]

I am lucky enough to be on a water meter, it makes you more careful with water, 3 adults, washing machine, dishwasher, showers, (no baths) dual flush wc's. I do not use it in the garden apart from topping up the pond in really hot weather and wash the 4 cars every 6-8 weeks. About £280 a year.

Thanks Ace, we're also on a meter, and washing amchine,showers. dishwasher etc 119cubic meters in six months?

[timelady]

Ooooh, water bills make me LIVID! I was on a metre for quite a few years and my direct debit was £10 a month. I always got a refund of some at the end of the year. The flat I'm renting now doesn't have a metre and I get charge a 'standard' rate that is for two people - about £250 a year. The fact that I don't use this much doesn't matter, and there is no one-person rate. They completely screw over tenants (and in conjunction people on lower incomes) - you cannot get a water metre installed without the agreement of the landlord and my landlord refused.  >:( I feel the water companies get to take unchecked advantage of people with the least money and least control over their situation.

Fortunately our water at the allotment is included in our rates. We have water butts and some of them have taps. We're allowed to fill up the butt from the tap but not use hoses, etc.

Tina.

[OllieC]

That's privatisation for you.

Can you imagine the logic of someone trying to get market forces into an industry with no competition? Some of the privatisation was astonishingly stupid. I say some, personally I can't think of any that have made life better apart from possibly BT and the energy companies, although that's all very confusing!

And how can they still be blaming leaky pipes when they've had 20 years to fix them?!?! Even I would have got round to it by now!

[mc55]

I'm on rates at home - I pay the minimum which is around £120 per year.  Not bad for them as I'm only home 2 nights a week and don't have a garden, guess I'd be better on a meter.  At the lottie I pay £20 for 6 months of (unlimited) water ... rises slightly each year

[OllieC]

Oh, one thing... We had to pay for water on out lotties last year, DESPITE THE HOSEPIPE BAN!!! Did I find this slightly annoying? No, it made complete sense and was entirely fair.

[KevB]

Oh, one thing... We had to pay for water on out lotties last year, DESPITE THE HOSEPIPE BAN!!! Did I find this slightly annoying? No, it made complete sense and was entirely fair.

I love the tongue in cheek replies! You cant beat common sense!