Switching to a water meter

Who's entitled to a free water meter

A water meter can help you save water and money.

Most homes in England, Wales and Scotland are entitled to a free meter and companies are expected to fit them within three months of you requesting one. However, a water company can refuse to install a meter if it would be unreasonably expensive or impractical to do so.

Residents of Northern Ireland don’t currently pay water rates. However, the government has announced plans to introduce domestic water charges to Northern Ireland from 2009. At present meters are installed on all new connections; and for the time being only consumers aged 60 years or over are able to apply for a meter.

How do I get a water meter?

Contact your water company to arrange a home assessment to decide if a meter can be installed. Some companies prefer to fit a meter inside the home while others prefer to install in a boundary box outside.

Your water company should then read the meter at least once a year. You can also read the meter yourself to check your bills and keep an eye on how much you’re using.

Water meter bills are based on your actual water usage.

Is installing a water meter worth it?

If you want to save water and reduce your bills, a free water meter could be the answer. See our guide to using less water for more water-saving tips.

The financial benefits of installing a water meter depend on what you pay now, the number of people in your house and how much water you use. 

Water regulator Ofwat says in general, large families may be worse off with a meter and single occupiers are most likely to benefit.

The organisation estimates metering can reduce household water consumption by 9-21%. On an average bill of £312 this is a saving of up to £66.

You can see how annual bills vary between different household sizes in the table below, based on Yorkshire Water's metered tariffs.

Typical metered costs for different sized households
People in household	Low water usage	Average water usage	High water usage
1	£160	£195	£240+
2	£240	£305	£350+
3	£315	£370	£460+
4	£390	£445	£570+
5	£470	£535	£655+

Metered water charges

A water meter works in the same way as a gas or electricity meter. It records and charges you for the amount of water actually used rather than the traditional flat charge based on the value of your property.

Water companies' unmeasured and measured tariffs vary considerably but your supplier can help you work out how a meter would affect your charges.

You can estimate your prospective metered water charges using the Consumer Council for Water's water meter calculator. Some individual water companies also have online calculators to help you estimate how much water you use.

If you receive two bills from different companies, one for water supply and the other for sewerage charges, you'll first need to obtain the relevant tariff from each company for each service.

Most British homes are eligible for a water meter.

Capped water meter bills

Industry watchdog the Consumer Council for Water says some people who have a water meter can request a capped bill if they receive specific benefits or tax credits and can’t avoid using a lot of water because they have three or more dependent children.

This also applies if you have a medical condition specified by the government - contact your water company for more details.

Your rights

If you can’t have a meter fitted, you can ask your company to base your bill on an assessed charge (your water company will be able to give you more information). You also you have the right to revert back to receiving a traditional bill within 12 months of the meter being fitted. But if you move into a property that already has a meter, unfortunately you're stuck with it.

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