Millions of households could have to install water meters

MILLIONS of households could be forced into having water meters installed in their home or risk a £200 hike to their bills.

Rules state that water companies can make families install meters in areas where there is a water shortage.

But eight new areas of the UK have been named as places at risk of running low, meaning six million more Brits could have to get a meter fitted, according to The Telegraph.

These are: Cambridge Water, Portsmouth Water, South Staffordshire Water, Severn Trent Water, Veolia Water, Wessex Water, and Southern West Water (Bournemouth and Isles of Scilly).

Households that refuse to have a water meter fitted are then put on a flat rate – which can add up to £200 to your yearly bill, according to reports.

But a spokesperson for the Consumer Council for Water told The Telegraph that companies should take action to fix leaks in supplies before making Brits put meters in.

A Public Accounts Committee report recently found that a fifth of all of country’s water supply is lost to leaks in every day.

The leaks are so widespread that the report said some parts of England could run out of water in the next 20 years.

It comes as households will have to fork out up to £36 a year more for their water bill.

Bills will go up by 1.7% or £7 a year on average, WaterUK said, and will also cover the cost of sewerage.

But some parts of the UK will see above inflation rises, including Essex and Suffolk, where the average bill is going up from £223 to £246 a year. 

That will be a bitter blow to families already feeling a big squeeze on their finances as a cost of living crisis continues.

How to get help for water bills

You might be able to get help from water companies for your bills.

Some offer a cap on costs or large families and those with certain medical conditions through the WaterSure scheme.

But you’ll need to have a water meter already installed and prove you use a lot of water.

Bills are capped at the average amount for your supplier, so the amount you could save will vary.

The Consumer Council for Water estimates that bills are reduced by £270 on average through the scheme.

If you’re on Universal Credit, you could opt for a social tariff –  find out who is eligible for both schemes and how to apply in our guide.