For those people who have a water meter in their homes, I'm interested to know what you pay monthly for water? There's just the two of us in my house and I don't think we waste water unnecessarily, however chatting today with my friend, she said that with 5 people in their house, with the washing machine on almost every day, the dishwasher daily too, plus all five of them either showering or having a bath daily, they pay about £35 per month. Our bill is about £30, which I feel is quite a lot. My washing machine is on maybe twice weekly and the same for the dishwasher and we shower/bath daily.
I could ring United Utilities to find out if there's a mistake but I believe if they don't find a mistake, then they may charge me over £100 for investigating.

Hi. I live alone. Shower daily. Do five six washes a week and my bill is £25.82 a month! I`d say DON`T investigate cos I think yours sounds quite good. My sister doesn`t have a meter and said she pays much less than me. I`ve probably really confused you now. Sorry.

Thanks Giggler. I just can't fathom how my friend with five people in the house can pay just £5 a month more than me and my husband.
I wish we didn't have a meter, but the house was built with one

My mum is convinced you pay more for a downstairs loo. I haven`t got one. My house is 18 years old. So no choice on the water meter either. My friend was persuaded to get a meter. The bill started at £20 and has risen steadily to £40. They`re a family of five have a downstairs too a separate shower room in annexe with another loo. So I was miffed when the bill started off lower than mine. They live in Heswall I live in Wallasey. My dad said maybe its a different supplier but I don`t know if that's true.

£32 p.m for two adults although other people have baths and use our washing machine. We have those 'balloon' thingies in the two loo cisterns. Also on a Meter.

Worth enquiring whether United Utilitis have water saving devices on offer, for free? We did have a shower timer too......glorified 'egg timer' to be honest though.

I have been toying with the idea of changing to a water meter as my bill is £72 a month!! There are 2 of us at home both shower daily, i have the washing machine on 4 times a week and dishwasher daily. I have 2 toilets but don't see how that can make a difference as still only flushing 1 loo at a time. We also have a garden so do use a hosepipe during dry periods.. I have queried my bill with united utilities and asked why its this amount their explanation was that it is set on the old rateable value of the property and suggest i have a meter installed. Other half said he thinks it will increase on a meter as everyone we speak to about it who have a meter says their bill is now bigger than before ...its a lot of money each month!

What they told my mate was if you have more bedrooms than people get a meter

If you're in a higher councll tax band the saving from going onto a meter would be greater. My Dad (band D) saved enough to definitely make it worthwhile; I (band B) saved a bit, but not enough to make it worth me staying on it. I was worrying about my water use too much, especially for the garden, so I came off it. If I went back on it I'd have to stay metered; but I have three water butts now for garden use, so perhaps it's time to reconsider!

My water payment had gone up to a monthly amount of £62. So last March I had a water meter installed. They said I was paying equivalent for 5 people living in the house.
'The catch'
The water usage was calculated to be initially £28 per month.
In May they gave a reading and adjusted the usage to £30 per month. Six months later another bill with the payment still £30 per month.
"Great", I thought, as we had watered the garden through the hot spell last summer, kids (small) paddling pool and an extra shared bath every Saturday night for 2 little girls. That apart from a daily shower/ bath (sometimes 2) for 2 people.
Washing machine probably 4 times a week ,no dishwasher.
Come this May 2014, another bill dropped through the letter box and my DD had been increased to £68 per month !!!!!!
Needless to say, with their clever ways of manipulating the first two months, and the bill coming 14 months after instalment of meter, I was no longer able to request for the meter to be removed.
I did contact them, and indeed the gentleman was very helpful and reduced the payment to £48, and to see if the usage reduces this year.
This summer has not seen watering the garden and vege, with only 2 days of paddling pool this year. So we will wait and see what the next reading indicates.
Pretty cross to be truthful, as I do feel it would have been a better option not to change now and at least be able to water vege , sprinkle the lawn and allow the children to have more fun in the summer months. Next door have a bloody great swimming pool that they don't use ! I bet they aren't on a meter, at least I hope they aren't.
I'm getting ready for defeat I think, life is no longer allowed to be care free, for any of us. Shoot me now, I've had enough!

This is as a guide back in 2011. Netmums and they must use a fair share with children.

http://www.netmums.com/coffeehouse/...much-do-you-pay-your-water-bill-all.html

It appears that based on your answers I'm really not paying too much over the odds for water. I wonder if eventually everyone will have to convert to meters over a period of time? If so, I understand it would mean an increase in bills for many people and would therefore be unwelcome but all other household utilities are calculated by usage and paid accordingly so why is water any different. Imagine if gas or electricity usage was calculated the same way, with some houses on meters and others paying a guessed monthly charge, there'd be outrage.

I have no objection paying for what we use, but I do object to huge families who are not on a water meter, paying less than I do yet using far more.

I have a water meter and currently pay £21 per month. I am very mean with the water! No dishwasher, use washing machine when I have full load only, when showering I turn it off whilst 'soaping up', the garden does not get watered (if the plants don't survive I find some that do).

It sounds as if United Utilities is very expensive. I'm with Severn Trent, have a meter, shower daily, washing machine probably once a week, same for dishwasher. I have an outside tap and keep all my tubs watered. Cost? £12/month.