My water bills

[doug]

We’ve been undertaking a few improvements around our house, this year, and I thought they might be of some interest. I do apologise for the mix of Imperial and Napoleon units but I’m a bit of an old fogey and normally fall back on the favourite units of my youth – those were the days.

Briefly the changes have been: a new boiler; toilets converted to dual-flush; restrictor and timer in the shower and rainwater collection. These have progressively taken place over the year and I’ll mention each in turn but not in any sequence.

The new boiler

Our old boiler was brand new 12 years ago and we had an annual service contract which more than paid for itself with replacement parts and problems. A few months back herself asked “When was the last time the boiler was serviced because there had not been any payments taken for a time?” On checking up we realised that it hadn’t been serviced for 2 years. I rang the company to be told that the boiler was now out of contract as I hadn’t responded to the renewal request. Hadn’t had one I said. Effectively I was told “tough cookie – because it was now over 10 years old they wouldn’t restart the contract. I could try shopping around eg. BG etc but they would all insist on a complete inspection and any repairs to be paid up front before a service contract would be entertained.

So after a bit of shopping around a local Gas Safe registered engineer installed a Combination Condensing boiler – the old one was just a combination unit. When the old unit was removed I was horrified to see how badly furred the hot water pipes were – a reduction of 50% in the internal dia. No wonder we always had to run the water for quite a time before it was hot enough to use. This had never been picked up during the routine services. Now it’s instant hot water in the shower so I can undress, turn on the shower and get straight in instead of the other way round.

Shower restrictor and timer

We were at the Gateshead Flower show beginning of August and one of the stalls was run by Northumbria Water. Chap was giving away what looked like egg timers. These were stuck on the wall with a suction pad. So I asked for one to be told “Certainly, provided I enter the water challenge” What’s that? Well you can have one for free provided you try to see if you can finish you shower before the timer runs out. So I duly acquired one and naturally being a bloke I always finish well before the timer which lasts for 5 mins.

Have also fitted a restrictor in the feed to the shower head. The upstairs shower has always had a good flow of water. The pressure is ~5.5 bar (atmospheres) As we are both Geriatrics we were offered a free shower restrictor. This included a very rough flow measuring gauge – namely a plastic bag with a printed line on it. You stick the shower head into the bag and turn it on for 15 secs. If I remember. Well I got more than twice the optimum flow, so I inserted the restrictor and re-check getting bang on the optimum flow.

Rainwater collection

We have a very large garden, which is the wife’s passion, This includes 5 hanging baskets, 6 wall pots and about 25 pots and tubs. I, of course, am head boy. Watering has been a pain this year because I’m having a bad attack of the Arthur in my drinking shoulder. However, I digress. I installed a water collection tank on the greenhouse many years ago, This was a 25 gal domestic roof water storage tank that I paid £5 for it (including the lid) in what is now Jewson in Birtley. Whenever there a good downpour this thing was always running over but whenever I was on water patrol it was always running out. I decided to fit another one in tandem. Made a new stand same dimensions as the previous one and went to buy a new tank - £25 not including lid! So I started to shop around – have you seen what the are charging for water storage tanks it’s a disgrace yet the powers that be say we should be recycling more. I totally agree but don’t make a living out of my pension. I got fed up with all these free low energy bulbs that kept coming through the post, our energy company, Warmfront, etc. Got sick of them arriving couldn’t give them away all our friends were in a similar situation. Can you get free water butts no you can’t. Met a chap at the same Gateshead Flower show and got chatting. You want some plastic barrels? How many do you want? 4! Will get them for you chap is always dropping them off at our Allotments. So I got the 4. Ruined the first cutting the top off to make a removable lid – you have to have a big enough hole to crawl in to tighten up the tap joint – cut too close to the top. So converted the others. 2 now in use up at the green house but no rain this last week.

Last night I had to do the watering using mains water. I use a 2 gal can and got through 8 of them – 16 gals (73 litres) and that was just the hanging baskets and wall pots. Some of the other stuff I have been allowed to die back now.

Cost of water

A couple of years back we had a water meter installed – big mistake been costing a fortune. Our monthly bill has been £56/month. Here’s a summary of the charges

Fixed cost Cost/m³

£/yr p/m³

Supply 30.90 91.82

Sewerage 68.40 87.52

Totals 99.30 £1.79/m³

As you can see it costs an arm and a leg you not only pay to receive it but also have to pay to get rid of it. They’ll be charging to empty the bins next!

Glad to report that our overall consumption has dropped fro 600 litres/day to 300 litres/day and the anticipated monthly charge will be £25.

So far my water collection capacity have increased from 20 to 80 gals and when I couple more ito the drain pipe fron the conservatory it will go up even further.

Sorry about the layout of the cost table will try and sort it out, was pasted from word.

[AlanHo]

The maintenance company/insurers do not want to have 10 year old boilers on contract. It's an old trick to ensure you don't get a reminder, thus causing you to miss the renewal and then buy a new boiler from them at a so called "discount".

This is the voice of experience.... However - Outlook reminded me that renewal was due and I was able to renew my contract in time - despite not having a reminder from them. I challenged them about it and was told "it must have got lost in the post". My foot.

[catgate]

I was quite surprised at the outset just how enthusiastic the water companies were when it came to saving water. It seemed to me that they would loose revenue. Then I realised that in order to keep their revenue up, so that the board could have their bonuses, they would jack up the price. They would then be able to make the same anount of money for less effort.

So along you come, cutting down your usage, so that I can pay more to compesate for your going short of water for your shower. We live in a funny world. There is going to be more rain in this country rather than less, if the "Global Warming" prophets are to be believed.

Presumably the water companies will still collect as much as they do now and export it to the Saharan region for even bigger bonuses.

[doug]

Yeah but £99/yr just to be connected before using one drop!

[AlanHo]

So far this year we are averaging 270 litres per day (two occupants).

Severn Trent charges over the last few years have been :-

2008....Total cost £279...Total consumption 083 cu metres ....cost/cu metre £3.36...Average litres/day 227 Single occupant

2007....Total cost £310...Total consumption 113 cu metres ....cost/cu metre £2.74...Average litres/day 309 Two occupants

2006....Total cost £311...Total consumption 122 cu metres ....cost/cu metre £2.55...Average litres/day 334 Two occupants

2005....Total cost £233...Total consumption 101 cu metres ....cost/cu metre £2.31...Average litres/day 276 Two occupants

2004....Total cost £224...Total consumption 104 cu metres ....cost/cu metre £2.15...Average litres/day 285 Two occupants

2003....Total cost £234...Total consumption 120 cu metres ....cost/cu metre £1.95...Average litres/day 328 Two occupants

2002....Total cost £272...Total consumption 117 cu metres ....cost/cu metre £2.32...Average litres/day 320 Two occupants

2001....Total cost £251...Total consumption 109 cu metres ....cost/cu metre £2.29...Average litres/day 298 Two occupants

[doug]

That is very expensive water /cubic meter. What does it look like when you break out the fixed charges Alan?

[AlanHo]

Total costs for 2008 were broken down as follows :

Water supply............................96.63

Water standing charge............23.17

Used water...............................64.64

Used water standing charge....11.91

Drainage...................................83.51 - My roof drainage runs into the foul sewer. Old country lane - no surface water drains.

Hence the total costs are

standing charges..........................................£35.08

Total cost for supply and removal of water £161.27

Drainage cost ...............................................£83.51

Grand bloody total.......................................£279.86

[doug]

So, again that looks like ~£100 before you use any water then ~£1.62/ton. Now I vaguely remember that there may have been a couple of different ways of paying for our water, either where I am at present fixed charge plus or a basic rate per unit. Will be doing some digging to see which is the best option.

[andsome]

I am surprised at a water meter costing more than before. We save about £100 per annum compared with neighbours without a meter. We have two 45 gallon rain water butts for garden watering. Regarding charges for waste water disposal, after a tip off from a neighbour we now save a considerable sum. The roof water drains straight into the ground into soak aways, so none enters the drains that way. The water from the drive drains toward the house into a very large soak away that I put in when I laid the drive. No water drains into the road at all, so after inspection the water company greatly reduced this charge. Where does your drive water drain to? The water company also supplied on request a free of charge 'HIPPO', which saves water in the toilet flush. HERE. Our water is supplied by a very small company, 'South staffs Water co'. :D

[AlanHo]

I have a soak away for the front of the house - but the rear is into the drains. It would be quite costly to install another soak away because of the configuration of the house versus garden. Since we plan on selling the house to downsize as soon as property prices recover - it isn't worth me spending money on it.

Our toilet cysterns are dual flush - Number 1 for number ones and number two for - well - you know what....

[doug]

I think the roof run off aspect is tricky Andsome. There is now a ruling that run off finishes up in the rivers anyway which the water cowboys are also responsible for. This issue is affecting many organisations which are not connected to the mains. I seem to recall the fact that some isolated Scout huts may now have to pay charges. I prefer the dual flush option for our toilet cisterns as sometime you need a good slug of water to "move things along" while other times a quick flush is adequate. these hippo thigs just reduce the total volume available regardless.

[andsome]

We had no choice regarding the roof run off. The house was built with the soak away provision, and works very well. :D If we ever need a new toilet cistern we would naturally opt for dual flush. The hippo is fine for older toilets like ours. :D

[doug]

The new dual flush systems are very easily fitted to old cisterns and about £15. Best fitted by a plumber as you have to remove the cictern to fit.

[andsome]

Just had a look at my bills. The total bill for a year by direct debit is £198. This is including standing charges and waste water, and water at £0.8439 per cubic metre. After the last bill we are currently £17.92 in credit. We are quite happy with this. :D

[doug]

That's good news.

[AlanHo]

Just had a look at my bills. The total bill for a year by direct debit is £198. This is including standing charges and waste water, and water at £0.8439 per cubic metre. After the last bill we are currently £17.92 in credit. We are quite happy with this. :D

If you were to shower daily and change your underwear more often than monthly - you would be able to get your bills up to our level......... :lol:

[Gandalph]

Me and 'er in bed where thinking of moving house back down to the North East. After reading this little lot about water bill's, I think we will stay up here.

[Watchful]

If you don't have a water meter then your water charges are still based on the rateable value of your house so, one that is in a high tax band will cost loads more than one in band A or B.

My friend who lives in a large detached house (Band E) paid a fortune in water rates until they had a meter fitted.

We have a water butt for garden use. It's amazing how much it collects just from one outhouse roof.

[doug]

Since I installed 2 drums in tandem at the green house, there hasn't been any rain! Going to install another one but connect it to the conservatory, it's got 3 times the collection area.

[andsome]

Just had a look at my bills. The total bill for a year by direct debit is £198. This is including standing charges and waste water, and water at £0.8439 per cubic metre. After the last bill we are currently £17.92 in credit. We are quite happy with this. :D

If you were to shower daily and change your underwear more often than monthly - you would be able to get your bills up to our level......... :lol:

'Er indoors has a daily bath and I have a daily shower. We NEVER EVER pump thousands of gallons of water onto the lawn as do some of our neighbours. This year it has not dried up because of the weather, but that hasn't stopped some of those without a water meter from wasting gallon up on gallon. Grass always recovers within a few days of rain coming. :D

[doug]

An after thought. Should have posted this before. In hindsight I didn't realise how profligate we had been with our water.

It's quite evident the affect that dry summers had had. Also the minimums of 500 l/day during the non-growing part of the year has also been excessive.