Just had a letter from Southern Water informing me of my high usage of water compared to last year (91m3) as oppose to this years (210m3!)

Went outside to check if i had a leak on the supply pipe like they said, turn of stop cock then see if meter is still running..........

PAH! Can't even see the fecking thing and nearly got eaten by a black widow spider, don't tell me they don't exsist here, this one had a knife and fork ready!

But, when i lifted the lid to the meter it had a 3 core wire coming of it which was snapped, water company said they'll send someone out but i was wondering what effect this would have on the meter?

I don't have anything different to last year, only put dishwasher on every 2 days etc and there is only 2 adults and an 18 month old in the house, pretty sure my consumption shouldn't have over doubled????

 

The wire supplies the touchpad that the waterboard usually take a reading off, so they dont get eaten by the black widows.....

 

So would it be logical to assume that since the wire has broken they may be getting a false reading from the meter?

I'm just shitting myself for when the bill comes in!

 

I would say there is a fair chance.....Or if they couldnt get a reading they MAY of made one up

 

Well, after phoning them the account has been put on hold and they are coming out to stitch me up, sorry i mean investigate!

Thanks for your help matey!

 

No worries.....Just plede ignornace to the meter.....

 

I work for Severn Trent Water we get quite a lot of this when you get a leak on private or a BOPP as we call them (Burst On Private Property)

Where is your Meter located? Is it on the Stop Tap / Boundary Box Outside or inside your house?

If you turn your stop tap off there is no way the meter could still be going round, unless it's faulty and water is still passing by.

You could have a leak somewhere on your comm pipe under your drive and not even know as the leaks don't always show.

A good way to check to for a leak on your pipe is to make sure nothing is drawing water off in the house i.e. all taps shut and washing machine / dish washing off. Then find something long and metal ideally not very thick (May be hard to get something long enough) and put it on the stop tap then the other end on your ear if you can here a noise you've got a leak.

Rich

 

if you don't have a leak, make damn sure you create one before they come out

 

Mine in buried in the pavement outside mate, with a 2 inch (ok, 6 inch squared!) access hole for it! Honestly, there's no way i can even see any numbers on it not to mention know if it's still registering after i turn off the stop cock in the house!

I think i'm just gonna have to wait for them to come round and bum me up the arse!

 

Don't take any shit off them if there is a leak and you or they get it repaired they will have to give you a refund on lost water, well thats what Severn Trent do anyway.
Rich

 

the only water meters that are fitted with cables are ones where the building connects it to there energy management system. This send a signal and it logs water useage. All water board people just type in the digits into there handheld thing.

also if your baby is only 18 months old i guest law years useage did not include baby water for 6 months of the year, i bet you use alot more water since the baby has been around.

 

Na, apparently acording to the water board it is so the people can get a reading from their machines that they use to read it. After speaking to them they said it could be giving a false reading so will come out and have a look.

Even so with the baby, i very much doubt that she uses the same amount of water as the mrs and i put together! Even though there may be a few extra loads of washing i can't see our useage more than doubling!

I'll keep you all informed if your interested!

 

if the cable was snapped how would they even connect the unit to it, what model is the meter?

 

i am a water meter reader in scotland, comercial propertys, we have worked down south b4, we only ever take the reading from the dials on meter , just take the reading and compare it with whats on the bill, is it not just the earth wire ??