How you could save money on your water bills

In each edition of Our Voice, our Money Advice Team will share a top financial tip that may be of benefit to you. The service exists to support our customers and always has your best interests at heart.

In this edition, the team’s top tip is all about water and how you could potentially lower your bills or get help with paying them.

During summer many of us will be using the hosepipe to water the garden or fill up the kids’ paddling pool.

All this uses water, which can prove expensive. However, there are ways to cut your water bills.

You have the right to be charged for the amount of water you use. A water meter can be installed for free, unless it’s not practical or is unreasonably expensive.

A meter may be right for you if you don’t use much water. It may be worth changing to one if your property has a high rateable value. This is the amount the property could be let for, as calculated before April 1990.

It is said you could pay less if there are fewer people living in your home than there are bedrooms.

With a meter, you won’t know exactly how much you will be paying in each bill. It all depends on how much water you use and this can change for many reasons.

Most water companies have usage calculators on their website to help you work out how much you might pay if you have a meter. You can also use a calculator on the Consumer Council for Water website at ccwater.org.uk.

If you’re thinking about changing to a meter, contact your water company. If you can’t have one installed, you may still be able to go on a cheaper tariff.

Water companies serving our customers may also have their own schemes in place to support those struggling with their bills.

• South Staffs Water customers can potentially move to the Assure Tariff which means those with a household income of less than £16,105 per year may qualify for a discount on their bill.
• Severn Trent Water operates The Big Difference Scheme which has helped 8,000 families in the last six months reduce their water bill.

It’s a social tariff which offers reduced water rates to customers with a low monthly disposable income. The scheme covers the entire Severn Trent Water region, so any customer who is billed by Severn Trent Water may be eligible to apply.

Other schemes are also there to help. Contact your own water provider to see what help they can offer you.