Water meters can help everyone

Meters are vital to help preserve water resources because their installation generally results in customers substantially cutting their water use.

On the Isle of Wight, for example, we fitted water meters to 93 per cent of properties in 1989. Consequently, water consumption dropped from 165 litres per person a day to 135 litres – a substantial saving of 18 per cent.

By this rule of thumb, installing meters in 500,000 properties across Kent, Sussex and Hampshire by 2015 means over 1m people will each be saving 30 litres a day – representing a huge total saving of over 30m litres of water a day. That’s more than enough water to meet the needs of Worthing, Eastbourne and Bognor Regis combined.

Water resources in the south-east are under pressure and our region is classified as one of “serious water stress” by the Government.

Our metering programme is an important part of our 25-year plan to match water supply and demand. Of all the options considered, metering was shown to be the overall lowest cost solution for customers.

Mr Lincoln asks how much extra metering is costing the average household.

In fact, the majority of metered households, some 60 per cent, have experienced a reduction in their bills averaging £11 a month. In Littlehampton, the savings have been even greater, with 65 per cent of customers witnessing a reduction averaging nearly £13 a month since having a meter installed.

And for those customers whose bills do go up, we provide a range of financial support options. Details of how we can help can be found at www.yourwatermeter.co.uk

However, overall our customers agree that charging for the number of units used (as all other utilities do), rather than fixing a fee depending on the rateable value of our properties, is the fairest way to charge for water.

Darren Bentham

Director of metering

Southern Water