Water meters - Why save water when it rains all day?

The metering of water supply utilities is common in most developed countries except the UK. We may wonder why, with the UK being at the forefront of environmental sustainability, it is still the case that only 1 in 4 people have a water meter.

In September 2008 Action for Sustainable Living undertook a brief community survey in the Sale area of Trafford. We found that only a few people have a water meter, even when the family size is small. The majority who don’t have a water meter don’t have sufficient reason for not having one. Some are not sure that having a water meter is the right way to save on bills; and some just started out without one and carry on without questioning the situation.

I would like to explain why we need a water meter. For the same reason that we need a meter for gas and electricity: so that whoever uses most water pays most money.

There is a cost in time and expertise in ensuring that water is of an acceptable quality. Once water is used it becomes waste in some form, and needs to be cleaned and treated before being returned to the rivers and the sea. It costs to treat water so that it reaches an acceptable quality before we consume it. This is the cost of energy to process the water, chemicals, manpower, and logistics.

Can we make a saving on our water bill? Yes, definitely. Experience here in the UK shows that householders could easily save an average of £125 a year by switching to a meter. I believe it can be more than that if you use water wisely.  Studies in Germany have shown that water consumption for metered households is 20 % less than for un-metered ones. That means you can make a saving of 20% or even more on water bills.

From my point of view, big households need to be encouraged to have a water meter as much as small households. In fact, as far as sustainability and environment is concerned, big households need to have a water meter as much as smaller ones. Large families need to be encouraged to save water by having a water meter. I think the water companies have lost the point by not encouraging such households.

Having a water meter is more than just a question of reducing bills; it is a matter of being prepared for a future where the population is growing and climate change is unpredictable. We may think that we have enough rain to use water as we want, but climate change experts forecast that in the future we may face more extreme weather patterns, with wetter winters and drier summers. This could indicate less clean water when we need it most. 

Having a water meter means taking control of our life and, as a result, saving on our bills. The more water we save, the more energy we save also. I believe that we can be given many tips on how to save water, but having a water meter is the most fundamentally important measure we can take to save water and contribute to sustainability.

If you would like further information please contact: Muna Haile Selassie