The price of water

[merlin]

I was having a conversation last night with a chap that is thinking of buying a place over here and setting down to a self sufficientish lifestyle. Now, he tells me that he is paying around £80 per MONTH for his tap water.
Does anybody think that could possibly be right? He also told me that he can be fined for having the lid of his dustbin open because of too much rubbish, and that he would be liable to another fine if he left the bin outside a day or so after it had been emptied????

[GeorgeSalt]

Depends where he lives, you quote in pounds so can we assume the UK?

Water rates (unmetered) are based on a standing charge for mains water plus another standing charge for sewerage - typically £300/pa combined, plus a variable charge based on the rateable valus of the house (c. £0.70 per £ of rateable value). Wasn't Lord Somesuch of Someplace Hall??

Metered would be c.£100 pa plus £1.50 per m^3 (being very -ish on the prices).


The bin rules are local authority variable.

[marshlander]

You're lucky to be in a less expensive area, George. My mum pays over £400 pa combined water and sewage and I gather it varies a lot regionally. We have a borehole for water and septic tank which costs about £50 pa to empty.

As to the fines, local authorities can fine up to £80 for over filling bins, putting them out too early, putting the wrong things in the wrong bins but supposedly it's only "persistent offenders" who are fined. Mum was dreadfully embarrassed one day when she came home to find a pair of her rather large, past it even for dusters, Bridget Jones knickers draped over the bin on a busy road with a note to say they were in the wrong bin! (not sure why the dustmen couldn't have just put them in the right bin

[GeorgeSalt]

I've just copied the prices from the Anglian Water website, first one that Google turned up. I don't have my bill immediately to hand (but we're metered in any case).

£80/month is £960/year.. that does sound like a lot.

We're fortunate to have some friendly binmen, providing you don't take the p*** every week they'll usually allow an extra bag after a party/etc. if you nip out and ask them. We do lose out weekly collection next year though.

[berry]

im paying £60 a month and im metered but live in devon and we do have the highest water rates in the country -i think :s

as for the binmen here, mine are fantastic and take extra rubbish/garden waste as long as its bagged up properly. they are of the view to collect it at the doorstep as it will avoid fly tipping later and i do live next to a protected woodland and im grateful for it.

Ive never been fined but we do have this ridiculous rule where if you have anymore than 3 steps up to your house you have to take your wheelie bin out yourself yet they will come and risk asses the steps if you need extra help! seems daft to me.