Water Meter Switch Calculator
See whether switching to a water meter would save you money, based on your household size and current unmetered bill. It's free to switch, and in England & Wales you can switch back within 24 months if it doesn't work out.
Estimate only. This is an estimate for information only, not a quote. Contact your water company for your exact charges and to arrange a meter.
Switching to a meter looks worth it
Based on your usage, a meter could save you about £90 a year.
If a meter isn't practical to fit, ask your water company about an "assessed charge" — a fixed estimate based on your household size and property, without needing a physical meter.
In England and Wales you have a legal right to switch back to unmetered charging within 24 months if a meter doesn't work out for you — so trying it is close to risk-free.
- It's free to have a meter fitted, and your water company usually does the work — ask them directly to arrange it.
- You can switch back to unmetered billing within 24 months in England and Wales if the meter turns out to cost you more.
- A water butt for the garden and low-flow shower heads/taps can meaningfully cut metered usage if your bill turns out higher than expected.
- If you're on a low income or receive certain benefits, ask about your water company's social tariff — it can cap your bill regardless of usage.
How your estimated metered bill is worked out
Without a meter, your water and sewerage bill is usually based on your property's old "rateable value" — a figure from before council tax existed, with no link to how much water you actually use. With a meter, you pay for what you use: your estimated annual usage (occupants × average usage per person) multiplied by your water company's combined water and sewerage rate, plus a small fixed charge for having a meter. Because unmetered bills are tied to the property rather than the household, they can work out expensive for smaller households in bigger homes — the classic rule of thumb is that if you have more bedrooms than people living there, a meter usually works out cheaper.