How to Save Money on Water Bills

The average water bill in the UK is almost £400 every year. While this may not be the biggest bill that you have to pay, there are still ways that you can reduce it even further. This guide can help you reduce the water you are using, which will lead to lower bills.

Will a Water Meter Save you Money?

Most people pay their water bill through rateable billing. This is where you pay a set price each year based on the size of your property. The other option is to have a water meter where you only pay for the water that you actually use.

A water meter will not you save you money in every situation, so you will need to assess your circumstances before requesting to have one installed. The rule of thumb for determining whether a water meter will save you money is that it can be beneficial to switch if you have more bedrooms than people in your home.

There is a calculator on the Consumer Council for Water website that will help you determine whether a water meter could save you money. You will need to provide details about how much water you use and you will be shown how much money, if any, you could save compared to what you are paying now.

Not all properties can have a water meter fitted, but this does not mean that you have to accept rateable billing. Your water company should offer you the opportunity to pay by Assessed Charge. This ensures that you will pay an amount that is in line with what you would have paid if you had a meter.

Tips For Saving Water…

If you are on a water meter, then the less water you use, the less you will pay. The following tips can help you to save water in your home…

• Don’t flush the toilet every time. This is not something that everyone is comfortable with but it can save you money. Some people compromise by not flushing until the morning if they use the toilet during the night.
• Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth. This is a simple action to take but it does reduce the amount of water that you use. You can also put the plug in when you wash your hands and face rather than leaving the tap running.
• Take showers instead of a bath. Not only does this save water, it also saves you a lot of time. People take this a step further by turning off the shower while they soap themselves up and then turning it on again when it is time to rinse.
• Put off doing the dishes. This piece of advice can be followed whether you have a dishwasher, or do the dishes by hand. You should save your washing up until you have enough to fill the dishwasher, or enough to make filling the sink worthwhile.
• Fill up your washing machine. This works along the same principle as the dishwasher. The washing machine will use the same amount of water, regardless of how full it is.
• Save the water you pour when waiting for the tap to get hot. You can then use this for watering plants or filling the kettle.
• Check for any leaks. If your bill is rising and you don’t know why, then you should check that none of your pipes are leaking. Even a small leak could end up costing you a lot of money. Any dripping taps should also be fixed as soon as possible.
• Use a water butt in your garden. A water butt collects rain water which you can then use for watering the garden. Watering your garden in early morning or late afternoon will use less water because evaporation rates are lower.

Using Water Saving Devices…

There are also water saving devices that can be used around the home to reduce the amount of water you are using. You may be able to get these devices directly from your water supplier at no cost.

Common devices that are available include inserts for your taps and heads for your shower. Both of these help to regulate the water you are using. You can also get blocks that you can place in your cistern which reduce the amount of water that is used when the toilet is flushed.

Winter insulation kits can also help you to save money. These kits usually contain insulation and lagging for your taps and pipes. While this will not save you money on your bills directly, it will help to prevent pipes from bursting which means you will not be faced with a big repair bill.

What Should You Do If You Are Having Difficulty Paying Your Water Bill?

If you are finding it a struggle to pay your water bill, then you should contact the company that supplies you as soon as possible. There is plenty of help available, but they can’t help if they do not know there is a problem.

If you have fallen behind with your payments, then you should be able to set up a repayment plan. Once a payment plan has been set up, then it is common for companies to help you pay the bill off quicker, either by matching the payments you make or by writing off some of the arrears. You will continue to qualify for this help as long as you keep to the repayment arrangement.

Your water company may also operate a charitable trust. These trusts help people who have a genuine reason why they are finding it difficult to pay their water bill. They will grant a one off payment which can significantly reduce the amount of your arrears, or even pay your bill completely.

Different water companies will have different schemes in place to help their customers. This is why it is so important to contact your company as soon as possible to discuss your difficulties. There may be some help they can offer before your arrears reach a high amount.