We are certainly having some hot sunny weather lately with wall to wall sunshine from dawn to dusk and night time temperatures in double figures. For some the weather is perfect but for others it’s just unbearable.
Being a touch overweight the hot weather is not something that I look forward to as it’s difficult enough just walking along in the cooler temperatures but having to battle with the intense heat makes things unbearable. Even driving in my car is uncomfortable as my car does not have air conditioning. No, hot weather is not something that I look forward to.
I wonder how long it will be before the water companies impose a hose pipe ban? We had quite a wet winter so the water table in Wycombe must be quite high. Sadly most of the green fields have been built on and as a result the water which falls flows straight down the drain instead of replenishing the underground aquifers.
Most of the houses in my area are not on water meters so there is no incentive to use less water. I never use a hosepipe not even for watering my plants. Using a watering can helps to keep me fit and also helps to save water. Tonight just as I finished watering my plants one of my neighbours got their hose out and washed their drive down.
Despite my best efforts to save water by using a can it made me very angry to think of all the water being wasted by my neighbour as they washed their driveway. If this summer turns out to be a scorcher we may well need that water later in the year. I think those who waste water should be forced to go on a meter. What do you think?
you can relax Ivor, though it will be warmer this summer it will also be wetter so i dont see any reason why people will need a hosepipe. Water meters make sense for single people/couples with no kids but when you have a large family its not economical i dont think!
you can relax Ivor, though it will be warmer this summer it will also be wetter so i dont see any reason why people will need a hosepipe. Water meters make sense for single people/couples with no kids but when you have a large family its not economical i dont think!
Actually, we went onto a water meter last year, 2 adults + 2 kids. Its a long story why, which I wont go into, but so far, over 12 months the cost has worked out about the same.
About the first thing we did was rig up 2 200litre water butts to the down pipe from the roof. I think we had to use manins water on the garden more than once or twice last summer.
Water meters make you think a bit more about how you use what is an increasingly scarce and expensive resource
Actually, we went onto a water meter last year, 2 adults + 2 kids. Its a long story why, which I wont go into, but so far, over 12 months the cost has worked out about the same.
About the first thing we did was rig up 2 200litre water butts to the down pipe from the roof. I think we had to use manins water on the garden more than once or twice last summer.
Water meters make you think a bit more about how you use what is an increasingly scarce and expensive resource
We are on a water meter and do find it a bit cheaper. We already have 2 water butts and today I bought a 3rd.
We aren't tight with our water and have baths and showers as we want, however it does make you think about senselessly wasting water.
Now when I do the washing up I always use that water for some pots, we also turn the taps off when we are cleaning our teeth, washing vegetables etc.
It does beg the question if all households in the country were put on a water meter, would water bills become cheaper?
We are on a water meter and do find it a bit cheaper. We already have 2 water butts and today I bought a 3rd.
We aren't tight with our water and have baths and showers as we want, however it does make you think about senselessly wasting water.
Now when I do the washing up I always use that water for some pots, we also turn the taps off when we are cleaning our teeth, washing vegetables etc.
It does beg the question if all households in the country were put on a water meter, would water bills become cheaper?
Posted by: Wycombe is High on... at 10:23pm on Fri 9 May 08
[quote]It does beg the question if all households in the country were put on a water meter, would water bills become cheaper?[/quote]
Not very likely unfortunately. Some people need to use more water than others. This may be for a multitude of reasons. I don't mean my car needs hosing daily 'cos I'm a clean freak or my swimming pool takes a good fill regularly.
Let's not forget that Thames Water lose phenomenal amounts of our water through leakage. There are too many zeroes to add to put the correct leakage rate per day. In fairness to them these leaks do return to our water supply again quite quickly. But really, for a company that is earning billions of pounds in profit for it's shareholders - could they not invest just a little more to fixing these leaks and ensuring that we are not short of water so quickly.
Lest I forget: perhaps if they were not so busy selling off their reservoirs to property developers. This extra profit for them gives the go ahead to build more houses/flats in Bucks (that is already renowned for building site central for years to come) arriving at the blatantly obvious conclusion: Reservoir vanished - less water. New builds on top of them, more population - needs water!
I am sure that if people who are on water meters or rates still use a similar amount of water today as they did before. Granted, if you were on a meter and saved yourself £30 of you bill, then that's great. Of course you have probably spent more than £30 on a water butt or two, and the downpipe kits.
I would imagine that for those on a meter the price will rise for units used as they would for rates so you will you most likely end up paying more in the long run.
Personally, I feel that they want us all metered so they can control everybody just that little bit more. Clearly it's not enough to weigh the contents of your bin and catch you on camera 17 times a day (even if nobody knows what to do with the information received.)
We are metered for gas and electric already. Is this the cheapest option given the price increases - or would you prefer rates?
I know which I would prefer.
It does beg the question if all households in the country were put on a water meter, would water bills become cheaper?
Not very likely unfortunately. Some people need to use more water than others. This may be for a multitude of reasons. I don't mean my car needs hosing daily 'cos I'm a clean freak or my swimming pool takes a good fill regularly.
Let's not forget that Thames Water lose phenomenal amounts of our water through leakage. There are too many zeroes to add to put the correct leakage rate per day. In fairness to them these leaks do return to our water supply again quite quickly. But really, for a company that is earning billions of pounds in profit for it's shareholders - could they not invest just a little more to fixing these leaks and ensuring that we are not short of water so quickly.
Lest I forget: perhaps if they were not so busy selling off their reservoirs to property developers. This extra profit for them gives the go ahead to build more houses/flats in Bucks (that is already renowned for building site central for years to come) arriving at the blatantly obvious conclusion: Reservoir vanished - less water. New builds on top of them, more population - needs water!
I am sure that if people who are on water meters or rates still use a similar amount of water today as they did before. Granted, if you were on a meter and saved yourself £30 of you bill, then that's great. Of course you have probably spent more than £30 on a water butt or two, and the downpipe kits.
I would imagine that for those on a meter the price will rise for units used as they would for rates so you will you most likely end up paying more in the long run.
Personally, I feel that they want us all metered so they can control everybody just that little bit more. Clearly it's not enough to weigh the contents of your bin and catch you on camera 17 times a day (even if nobody knows what to do with the information received.)
We are metered for gas and electric already. Is this the cheapest option given the price increases - or would you prefer rates?
Posted by: Wycombe is High on... at 10:34pm on Fri 9 May 08
[quote]It does beg the question if all households in the country were put on a water meter, would water bills become cheaper?[/quote]
I suspect the biggest question we face is:
If we pay the Government an aver increasing amount of our hard earned cash; will it halt global warming in it's tracks, or will it heat up crazily because of our foolishness and we will all fry to death (completely against the grain of what the world has experienced over it's excessively long existence)?
It does beg the question if all households in the country were put on a water meter, would water bills become cheaper?
I suspect the biggest question we face is:
If we pay the Government an aver increasing amount of our hard earned cash; will it halt global warming in it's tracks, or will it heat up crazily because of our foolishness and we will all fry to death (completely against the grain of what the world has experienced over it's excessively long existence)?
Re the comments of SBJones at 11:00am on Fri 9 May
Let’s hope this summer is wet then there will be no need for me to struggle around my garden with a watering can.
When water meters are introduced we will be charged by how much water we use therefore the households with children will pay more than single people. Isn’t this fairer?
Re the comments of SBJones at 11:00am on Fri 9 May
Let’s hope this summer is wet then there will be no need for me to struggle around my garden with a watering can.
When water meters are introduced we will be charged by how much water we use therefore the households with children will pay more than single people. Isn’t this fairer?
Re the comments of tom at 11:40am on Fri 9 May
Yes, the introduction of water meters will indeed make people think about how much water they use. I suspect people will wake up to a harsh reality once they are compulsorily introduced.
No doubt there will be another backlash as with the introduction of the infernal green bins. Perhaps the issue of water meters will help the silent majority to find their voice....
Re the comments of tom at 11:40am on Fri 9 May
Yes, the introduction of water meters will indeed make people think about how much water they use. I suspect people will wake up to a harsh reality once they are compulsorily introduced.
No doubt there will be another backlash as with the introduction of the infernal green bins. Perhaps the issue of water meters will help the silent majority to find their voice....
Re the comments of Melanie at 9:41pm on Fri 9 May
I fear the water bills would not become cheaper as the water companies will still want the same level of income to bolster their profits. What will happen is that the payment burden will shift making single people living alone better off and houses with families worse off.
Re the comments of Melanie at 9:41pm on Fri 9 May
I fear the water bills would not become cheaper as the water companies will still want the same level of income to bolster their profits. What will happen is that the payment burden will shift making single people living alone better off and houses with families worse off.
Re the comments of Wycombe is High on... at 10:23pm on Fri 9 May
On the subject of leakage perhaps the water companies should be fined for the lost water at the same rate as the householders would pay for using it? After all it’s all water being used/lost.
What are the chances of the government introducing a water tax so they can get their cut of the profits from the water industry?
Re the comments of Wycombe is High on... at 10:23pm on Fri 9 May
On the subject of leakage perhaps the water companies should be fined for the lost water at the same rate as the householders would pay for using it? After all it’s all water being used/lost.
What are the chances of the government introducing a water tax so they can get their cut of the profits from the water industry?
Re the comments of Wycombe is High on... at 10:34pm on Fri 9 May
Halt global warming in its tracks? First we have to be sure that there is global warming at all and not just a blip in the weather.
Wouldn’t the environmental boffins who are creating the scare stories look silly if the recent few years of warmer weather did turn out to be just a blip after all the fuss they have made....
Re the comments of Wycombe is High on... at 10:34pm on Fri 9 May
Halt global warming in its tracks? First we have to be sure that there is global warming at all and not just a blip in the weather.
Wouldn’t the environmental boffins who are creating the scare stories look silly if the recent few years of warmer weather did turn out to be just a blip after all the fuss they have made....
Posted by: Wycombe is High on... at 10:10pm on Sun 11 May 08
[quote][bold]Ivor[/bold] wrote:
Re the comments of Wycombe is High on... at 10:23pm on Fri 9 May On the subject of leakage perhaps the water companies should be fined for the lost water at the same rate as the householders would pay for using it? After all it’s all water being used/lost. What are the chances of the government introducing a water tax so they can get their cut of the profits from the water industry?[/quote] What are the chances of the government introducing a water tax so they can get their cut of the profits from the water industry?
The Govt already have there taxes in place; the regulating bodies.
Thames Water earn a huge profit at our expense, and then the regulator jumps on then and fines them a couple of million quid for losing water or treating the public unfairly or whatever.
Everyones a winner - except you or I (again!!!)
Ivor wrote:
Re the comments of Wycombe is High on... at 10:23pm on Fri 9 May On the subject of leakage perhaps the water companies should be fined for the lost water at the same rate as the householders would pay for using it? After all it’s all water being used/lost. What are the chances of the government introducing a water tax so they can get their cut of the profits from the water industry?
What are the chances of the government introducing a water tax so they can get their cut of the profits from the water industry?
The Govt already have there taxes in place; the regulating bodies.
Thames Water earn a huge profit at our expense, and then the regulator jumps on then and fines them a couple of million quid for losing water or treating the public unfairly or whatever.
I'm being polite here....
There appears to be a large gap between Thames Water's obligation to its shareholders and its interpretation of its statutory obligations to consumers.
Other water companies may be better, I dont know; I dont exactly have a choice over water provider.
Having said that, I'm in favour of meters. We should pay for it according to how much we consume. Its no different to gas, electricity, petrol or food in that respect.
I'm being polite here....
There appears to be a large gap between Thames Water's obligation to its shareholders and its interpretation of its statutory obligations to consumers.
Other water companies may be better, I dont know; I dont exactly have a choice over water provider.
Having said that, I'm in favour of meters. We should pay for it according to how much we consume. Its no different to gas, electricity, petrol or food in that respect.
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