You either pay your water bill based on a fixed rate or on the basis of the amount of water you actually use, measured with a water meter.
This page explains how you are charged if you don’t have a water meter and what you can do if you have a query about how much you're charged.
Paying your water bill
If you pay for water without a meter, the water company expects payment in advance. If you think your bill is wrong, you should contact your water company. Before you do this, check:
it's in your name, especially if you've just moved and may be billed for water the last resident used
it's for the same time period that it's usually for and not for a longer time period than normal for some reason
it isn't estimated. Estimates are sometimes based on previous high water use
whether you're paying off towards money you owe on previous bills.
How is your water bill calculated?
If you don't have a water meter, you will pay an unmeasured charge. This is often made up of a standing charge and a charge that varies.
You can have an unmeasured charge based on one of these things:
Flat rate charge
Some water companies will charge a flat rate for everyone, wherever they live and whatever property they live in.
Assessed Volume Charge
Assessed Volume Charge is usually based on the size and type of the property or the number of occupants. It can sometimes be offered instead of a meter, if you've asked for one and it's not possible to fit one at your property.
Charges based on the rateable value of the property
Before April 1990, every property in England and Wales was given a rateable value. This was based on how much the property could be let for. Some water bills are charged as a percentage of this rateable value. The amount varies from one water company to another.
Querying the rateable value of the property
You may want to query your water bill if it's based on the rateable value and your property has changed a lot since the value was set. You can't have the rateable value reassessed. However, you may be able to get a water meter installed instead, or have a fixed charged applied to the property. This would be based on council tax banding or on a notional rateable value.
Your property might have changed a lot if, for example, it used to be several flats and is now one house, or has been split up into smaller houses or flats.
As a rule of thumb, you could pay less on a meter than you do on the rateable value if you have fewer people in the property than bedrooms.
If you're renting
Check how you can pay your water bills if you’re renting.
Next steps
Other useful information
Check which water company supplies your area on the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) website.
Get more help with water issues on the CCW website.
FAQs
If you don't have a water meter, you will pay an unmeasured charge. This is often made up of a standing charge and a charge that varies. You can have an unmeasured charge based on one of these things: a flat rate charge.
Do you need meter readings for water? ›
It's easy to do and will keep your bills as accurate as they can be. We're required to take our own meter readings at at least once every two years. This is to check for leaks and that we're not overcharging you.
Can I switch back to unmetered water? ›
If you choose to get a water meter, it's usually free and you can switch back to the unmetered charge within 24 months if you're unhappy (except for customers in water-stressed areas of England where compulsory metering is introduced). If a water meter isn't an option, the company may offer a cheaper alternative.
Is it better to not have a water meter? ›
No surprises. Fixed fees mean no surprises. Not having a water meter means your water bill will be the same every month, so there won't be any unexpected surprises or seasonal fluctuations. You know upfront exactly how much you'll be paying for the year so you can accurately budget.
What are replacement charges? ›
Replacement Charge means expenditures for obtaining and installing equipment, accessories or appurtenances which are necessary during the useful life of the treatment works to maintain capacity and performance for which such works were designed and constructed.
What if water meter is not working? ›
If you believe your water meter is faulty, contact your water company for an inspection. Most water companies will only charge for meter inspections if the results show that the meter works properly. Otherwise, the company will absorb the cost.
What are the disadvantages of having a water meter? ›
Reasons not to switch to a water meter
- High volume water usage. Obviously if you do use a lot of water then it makes no sense to switch. ...
- You wouldn't be paying for leaks. ...
- Fixed fees mean no surprises. ...
- You can't change your mind in the long term. ...
- It could affect future sale of the property.
If you do not have a water meter, you are an unmetered customer. Your bill is not based on how much water you use. Your bill is usually made up of a: fixed charge (or 'standing charge'), which covers things like billing and customer service costs; and.
Is it better to switch to a water meter? ›
The average person saves £100 a year when they switch to a meter. Save water: people with water meters tend to use less water and it helps to spot leaks, saving water and the environment. Try it out - it's easy and you can switch back if you change your mind in the first two years.
How much does it cost to fit a water meter? ›
Your water meter is free to put inside the home. There may be a fee for putting it outside, but your water supplier can guide you through this.
Water metering is the practice of measuring water use. Water meters measure the volume of water used by residential and commercial building units that are supplied with water by a public water supply system. They are also used to determine flow through a particular portion of the system.
Do water meters reduce water consumption? ›
As measured recently by utilities who have installed meters, unmetered water consumption can be reduced 15% to 30% when metering and commodity rates are implemented.
Does every house have a water meter? ›
All new properties should have a water meter. The builder should have given you the meter details when your home was handed over.
How to find a water meter? ›
Where to find your water meter. Most meters are in the public footpath outside your house or in the front garden. Sometimes, your water meter will be located inside the house next to the stop tap. In a flat, your water meter may be in a cabinet in the building, marked with your flat number.
Can you get a smart meter for water? ›
A smart water meter measures water flow from the mains into a home or business property that uses water and transmits this consumption data as frequently as every 15 minutes.
What does a water meter look like? ›
Your water meter is a round, plastic box. It usually has a small, hinged cover. When you open the cover of the round box, you will see 5 digits on a black background and 3 digits on a red black ground.
