Water meters
Water meters are rarely used in Scotland and are not available in Northern Ireland. But around 10% of households currently have water meters in England and Wales. They measure exactly how much water is used so companies can charge accordingly. Some water companies and environmental groups are keen for metering to be extended because they believe it discourages wastage and inefficient usage. Most industrial users of water are already metered.
Around 90% of the population still pay for water under the old system where the charge is related to the rateable value the property concerned. This system can act as a subsidy to those who are less well off because they tend to live in less expensive properties. But it also means that those who live alone may pay more than they would with a meter. There are fears that a "pay for what you use" system, charged at the same rate for everyone, could penalise large families on a low income. There are also huge variations in the cost of a water meter installation with some companies providing them for free and others charging up to £200, depending on where the is meter installed.
Proportion of households and non-households taking metered supplies
|
% households |
% non-households |
| Anglian |
28.1 |
83.5 |
| Dwr Cymru |
3.1 |
73.5 |
| N.West |
7.3 |
83.1 |
| Northumbrian |
5 |
64.7 |
| Severn Trent |
13.2 |
84.1 |
| S.West |
13.3 |
87.1 |
| Southern |
14.2 |
70.1 |
| Thames |
8.0 |
76.0 |
| Wessex |
13.7 |
80.6 |
| Yorkshire |
8.1 |
85.3 |
Source: Ofwat
