Metering and water saving

Here in the Bristol Water supply area, we run an initiative called Change of Occupier metering (also known as selective metering) for people moving house. This means that when you move house, we take the opportunity to fit a water meter. When you move, this will already be sorted for you so there is no need to call and book.

Water meters help you (and us) manage water usage and private leaks. They also often save customers money as we only charge for water used, rather than on a fixed rate known as the rateable value. If at any point you feel that your bill is becoming unaffordable, please contact us as we have schemes available to help.

We are committed to delivering this important programme, as agreed with Ofwat, to help to protect water resources, as well as providing additional benefits to a number of business areas including:

• Improving leakage control.
• Improving supply demand balance.
• Improving security of supply.
• Protecting water resources.

The Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended by the Water Industry Act 1999), in particular section 144B, Sub-section 2 (b) of that Act, enables us to meter a property on a change of occupier. The Industry Regulator Ofwat has approved our plans on selective metering of properties on change of occupier, as part of our business plan submission.

1. We will send you a confirmation letter with more details of the programme and the next steps.
2. A survey will be conducted to see if we are able to fit a water meter and, if successful, to assess where would be most appropriate – this is often at the boundary of your property.
3. The meter installation will either be done by one of our surveyors on the first visit or where further excavation is required.

How long will the process take?

We perform a survey within 15 working days (Monday – Friday). If the installation requires a new boundary box, the installation can take a further 15 working days from the date of the survey.

Water companies are under constant pressure from the Environment Agency and Ofwat to promote the efficient use of water, and metering is an excellent way of doing this.

This means we are required to fit water meters at properties with a change of occupancy to comply with the Environment Agency and Ofwat and to also fulfil our responsibility for promoting sustainable water usage in Bristol.

The 1999 Water Act includes a clear set of rules explaining when we can and when we cannot fit a meter. It also includes authentication stating that if we choose to fit one, the law states we are within our rights.

If you feel that there is a very strong case why one should not be fitted please contact us and we will be happy to consider your circumstance, but unfortunately we cannot guarantee that this will stop the installation.

When a change of occupier occurs, the property gets a meter fitted so all bills are paid based on your meter readings. This is the case even if you have previously lived in that property. If you have any concerns or queries over your water usage then you can read some of our water-saving advice on the Bristol Water website, just search for ‘water efficiency’. If you have concerns over problems paying for your bill, please contact us.

The location of the meter will be decided by Bristol Water and will largely depend on the location of the Company Stop Tap (CST). This is usually located in the footpath or just inside the property’s boundary – if not, Bristol Water will find out where it is possible to fit the meter.

If your property meets the criteria for the scheme you will be unable to revert to an unmetered charge in the future.

If a leak is identified we will follow the Leakage Code of Practice for Domestic metered customers. This provides up to 100% allowance for the first leak and 50% of a second leak as long as the conditions of the Leakage Allowance scheme have been met.

We are responsible for maintaining or replacing the meter, unless you damage or misuse it. In this case, you will have to pay for any repair.

We will do this for you. You will receive a single bill for water supply and sewerage services based on the amount of water you use.

How will my sewerage charges be affected?

Normally the sewerage element of your metered bill will be based on 95% of the recorded water consumption. This is based on the assumption that 5% of your water will be used to water your garden, etc, and will therefore not return to the sewer. If you think this rate does not reflect your personal use, please contact us.

Water usage tends to vary quite considerably. We've found that, on average, domestic water use is about 60 cubic metres per person per year. But of course this is an approximation; some households may pay less while others may pay more. A big factor to consider is the amount of people in the house, the amount of automatic washing appliances, the number of baths and showers taken and how much you water your garden (if applicable). For more information on your water usage you can refer to our online Water Use Calculator or contact us.

Your meter will normally be read every six months and you should receive your bill shortly after the meter reader has visited your property. If for any reason the meter cannot be read, you will receive a bill with an estimated consumption either based on a similar period in a previous year or one based upon the best information available at the time.

We have a range of social tariffs and payment options. You can also contact us if you are concerned about your bill.

If you change your mind, we will switch you back to unmeasured charges for free at any time within the first 24 months of installation. This applies to people who've chosen to have a water meter installed and doesn't apply to those fitted under the change of occupier scheme. Read the full terms and conditions for the Water Mater Money Back Guarantee scheme here.

Save Money

With a water meter, you only pay for the water you use at home. If you reduce the amount of water you use, the benefits will be reflected on your bill. By using less water, you spend less money - it's pretty simple! In fact, on average our customers save £94 a year on their bill after switching to a water meter.

Environmental

Using only what you need and wasting less water in your daily life can make a real impact – from protecting future water supplies to helping the environment and even saving a few pennies on your bill. It takes a lot of energy, time and money to get your water from reservoirs to come out of your taps at home. And during that process, we also need to make sure that our lakes, rivers, and streams stay healthy and full to keep the planet and biodiversity balanced.

Quite simply, every single drop counts. By doing your bit to not waste it, you can help ensure there’s a reliable water supply for the future, and you can help protect the environment around you. If you're interested in more tips, you can join our water-saving community here. 

Only pay for water you use

Did you know that by not being on a meter, you could be paying for water you don't use? That's like flushing your money down the toilet! Water meters are often seen as the fairest way to pay for your water bill as you only pay for the water you use.

Detect leaks

By having a meter, you'll be able to keep a closer eye on what goes on in your home. By checking on it every now and again, you'll easily be able to spot an internal leak on your property. By spotting leaks quicker you'll help reduce water waste.

No, all payment arrangements remain the same unless you instruct us otherwise. If you have an existing Direct Debit we will adjust your amount after taking the first reading. If you pay by instalment plan, the instalment value will change and you will be notified once the meter details are entered onto your account. A new instalment plan will be sent to you.

If you have mobility difficulties and are unable to read your meter, we can arrange to read it for you. We offer two free meter readings to customers with mobility difficulties in addition to the two we already carry out. Just give us a call on 0345 600 3600. 

We will take regular readings for you, but if you'd like to monitor your water consumption and submit your own readings, you can easily do so online. Submit a meter reading here.

Absolutely nothing! Water meter installations are completely free of charge and usually you don't even need to be home when they are fitted. Find out more about switching to a water meter here.

In our free water-saving packs, we offer crocodile toothy timers. These simple devices will help the kids to reduce water when brushing their teeth.

The toothy timer counts down two minutes and fits easily onto your tiles or wall next to the sink as a handy reminder to brush for two minutes while switching off the tap between rinses. The information card explains the importance of water and was developed following research that suggested that 64% of 7 to 10-year-olds leave the tap running when they brush their teeth. Using a toothy timer can stop that, saving up to 4,000 litres of water a year in the process!

Get your toothy timer here and then check out this video from Save Water Save Money to see how to install it: 

A shower timer is a simple but nifty device designed to help you keep your shower time to four minutes, using less energy and water as a result.

The shower timer fits easily onto your tiles or glass screen next to your shower with a suction cup. It acts as a handy reminder to keep your shower time to four minutes.

Get your shower timer for free here and then check out this video from Save Water Save Money to see how to install it: 

In our free water-saving packs, we offer the Buffaloo bag, a simple device you can insert into your toilet cistern to save between one and two litres of water every time you flush.

Please note that the Buffaloo bag only works in single flush cisterns.

Get your Buffaloo bag here and then check out this video from Save Water Save Money to see how to install it: 

We offer a range of water saving items free-of-charge to our customers to make reducing the amount of water you use in your home quick and easy.

Our water saving pack includes the following items:

• Shower regulator
• Shower timer
• Cistern bag
• Plant water-saving gel
• Toothbrush timers
• Regulator tap inserts

To find out more about each of these items and select which ones you want for your home, head to our saving water page. We also offer other products for sale which are great value and will help you save water.