By having a water meter you are joining over 80% customers benefiting from cheaper water bills. That’s because you’ll only be paying for the water that you use.
Finding your meter
We’ll usually install the meter in the path outside your drive or garden within a chamber. The chamber will have a lid usually labeled ‘meter’ or ‘water’.
Reading your meter
When you’ve found your meter, you may want to use a screwdriver to help lift the lid and a cloth to wipe any dirt so you can see the dials clearly.
We aim to read your meter every six months, so if we don’t have a meter reading when your bill is due, we’ll send you a bill with an estimated read. If you’re able to provide us with your own reading at this time, we can update your bill based on your reading.
Checking for leaks
It’s much easier to spot leaks when you have a water meter as you can see how much water is being used. It’s therefore important to keep an eye on your water usage, especially if you believe it’s higher than normal.
- If you have an outside meter, lift the chamber lid using a screwdriver or similar tool.
- You may need to use a tool to scoop out any soil or rain water that has built up inside the chamber.
- Make sure that the unique serial number on the meter matches with your bill. For a meter with a lift up lid, the serial number will be under this.
- On the meter face, read the black or white numbers (we don’t need the numbers in red)
The black or white numbers on the dial represent cubic metres and the red represent litres.
If you are unable to read your meter due to it being in a difficult position or location, please contact us so that we can help you.
If you notice that the numbers on the red dials are moving when you’re not using any water, there may be a leak on your supply pipe.
If you have received an estimated bill, you can give us your own meter reading within 30 days of this estimate online at MyAccount or by completing our form. You can also call our automated meter reading line on 0800 083 4247.
Generally we install meters outside of your home in the footpath or front garden. It will sit within a chamber under a small square or rectangular cover and will usually be labelled with ‘meter’ or ‘water’.
You may need to use a tool to scoop out any soil or rain water that has built up inside the chamber.
Your meter will have a unique serial number which is shown on your bill, so you need to check that it matches the number on the meter.
Sometimes your meter is located inside your home, usually under the kitchen sink or near the internal stop tap.
If you are still unable to find your meter, give us a call so we can advise how we can help.
We won’t be able to install a meter if:
- you have a fixed-term tenancy of less than six months
- a bulk meter already exists – this usually applies to blocks of flats and caravan parks
- it is not practical because you share your water supply with neighbours
- installation is not straightforward and you do not want to pay the charge. (We cover the cost of fitting a meter up to £650 and will charge you for the cost above this amount.)
If we can't install a meter for any reason other than the circumstances above you can choose to go on an assessed charge. This is based on:
- the number of people in your household
- our current water charges
Most of the water you use goes into the sewer, so when a meter is installed, we need to let the sewerage company know. We also send them meter readings so they can work out your sewerage bill.
Sewerage charges are based on a percentage of your water use. This allows for garden watering or other outdoor uses:
|
Wessex Water – 95% |
Southern Water – 92.5% |
If you think that the amount of your water returned to the sewer is different to the percentages shown above, please contact your sewerage company.
Yes, you can provide us with your own reading, if it is safe to do so, either by:
- Signing in to your MyAccount
- Completing our meter read form
- Calling our Customer Services
You might decide to provide your own reading if your recent bill has been estimated. We’ll send you a new bill based on your reading as long as it’s taken within 30 days of the estimate.
We’ll also aim to read your meter every 6 months.
Please call Customer Services on 01202 590059 and give us at least ten working days’ notice.
You can also provide your own meter readings online.
The meter needs to record all of the water used in your house and garden and be safely accessible to read.
Outside meters are usually installed in a small underground box under the pavement close to the front of your property boundary.
Inside meters are fitted closest to the point where the service pipe enters your house.
If you live in a flat or communal property and have an individual meter, it may be inside the building, next to the stop tap.
We aim to install your meter within 60 days of receiving your signed application form, phone call or online application.
Installation could be delayed if we have to wait for local authority permission to dig up the road, or if alterations to your plumbing are necessary, for example.
If we fail to fit the meter within 60 days, we won’t apply the rateable value charge from the 61st day until the meter is fitted. If the rateable value charge for this period is less than £10, we’ll credit your account with a minimum of £10.
If you have asked us to install a meter and you don’t think that switching to a meter was of any benefit, you can go back to unmetered charges if you meet these conditions:
- the new meter was optional (not compulsory)
- you ask before the end of the 24th month
This is because it takes a full year to get a fair comparison of your metered and unmetered bills.
If you have moved in to a property, that has had a compulsory meter installed as part of the move, you also have the option to go back to unmetered charges, if you ask us before the end of the 24th month.
If you want to go back to unmetered charges, please take a meter reading and get in touch we will be happy to help make the change.
The meter will remain in place and should you move house, the new occupier will pay metered charges.