When we think about cutting down our monthly outgoings, we usually look straight at our streaming subscriptions or our food shop. We tend to ignore our average water bill, thinking: “Well, it is what it is. I have to pay it, and the price is fixed.”
But that is a massive misconception. You can save money on your water, and you don’t have to radically change your life to do it.
Living here in Birmingham, my water provider is Severn Trent Water. For years, I was paying a fixed rate of around £800 to £900 a year. But because we wanted to squeeze every penny, we decided to look into a water meter.
The result? It slashed our annual bill down to £650 a year. That is a massive £250 saving just for changing how our water is measured.
Here is how you can work out if a water meter is right for your family, plus a few common-sense tricks to stop wasting cash down the plug hole.
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The Golden Rule of Saving on Your Water Bill
Switching to a water meter means you stop paying a flat, estimated rate based on the size of your house, and you start paying only for the exact amount of water you actually use.
As a general rule of thumb: If you have more bedrooms in your house than you do people, a water meter will almost certainly save you money.
We are a small family—myself, my wife, and our two kids. The kids are at school during the day, my wife works from home full-time, and I work from home three days a week. Because we aren’t running taps constantly all day, switching was a no-brainer.
- Is it right for everyone? If you have a very large family and the washing machine or shower is running 24/7, a fixed rate might still be your best bet.
- The No-Risk Trial: Most water companies give you a trial period (often up to 12 or 24 months) where you can test a water meter. If your bills go up, they will usually let you switch back to your old unmetered billing for free. There is literally no harm in having a look.
Free Water-Saving Gadgets (Don’t Leave This on the Table)
Reducing consumption is the easiest way to cut down your annual water bill. If you are in the Midlands with Severn Trent Water, or honestly with almost any major UK water supplier, go onto their website right now. Water companies are actually required by the regulator to help households reduce waste, so they give away free water-saving gadgets. You can order things like:
- Eco-friendly shower heads or tap inserts (which reduce the flow without losing pressure)
- Regulated flush bags for your toilet cistern
- Free help guides and tips on how to harvest rainwater for your garden
It takes two minutes to check online, and they ship them straight to your door for free.
📊 Grab Your Free Household Budget Tracker Sheet
Ready to take control of your monthly outgoings? Download our free, simple Google Sheet & Excel budget calculator to list your income, track your essentials, and spot hidden subscription bloat automatically.
Download the Free Budget Tracker →4 Common-Sense Tricks to Stop Wasting Pennies
Beyond the meter, there are everyday habits that add up over a full year. They sound simple, but you’d be surprised how often we forget them:
- Watch the “Ghost Drips”: How many times have you hurriedly washed your hands, turned the tap, and walked out the door? If a tap isn’t fully closed, it can sit there dripping for hours while you are at work. Make it a habit to double-check that your taps are completely locked down before you leave the house.
- Turn it off while brushing: Leaving the tap running while brushing your teeth for two minutes wastes litres of clean water. Turn it off until it’s time to rinse.
- Shorten the shower: You don’t need to be in there forever. Cutting just 60 seconds off your daily shower time saves a massive amount of water and saves on the gas or electricity needed to heat it.
- Ditch the long washing cycles: When you’re doing the laundry, check your machine’s settings. You rarely need an hour-plus hot cycle for everyday clothes. Wash on a lower time limit, use cooler water cycles when possible, and save the intense hot washes for when they are actually needed.
Every Penny Counts
A £250 annual saving breaks down to an extra £20 a month back in your pocket. That is twenty quid that can go straight toward your grocery trolley, your energy bill, or your savings pot instead of literally disappearing down the drain.
Take a look at your latest water bill tonight, see if a meter makes sense for your household size, and get those free gadgets ordered!
How do I know if a water meter will save me money?
A good rule of thumb is if you have more bedrooms in your home than people living there, a water meter will almost certainly lower your bill.
Is fitting a water meter free in the UK?
Yes, in most cases in England and Wales, water companies will install a standard water meter for free upon request.
Can I switch back if a water meter costs me more?
Most suppliers offer a trial period (typically up to 12 or 24 months) where you can revert to an unmetered plan if your costs go up.