Would a water meter save you money?
Use your current annual unmetered bill and the proposed metered tariffs for the same water and sewerage services. Savings depend on usage and rates.
Calculate from your water bill tariffs
For England and Wales, using your own rates. Supplier averages do not load tariffs into this tool. Have your latest water and sewerage bill ready; enter zero for a charge that genuinely does not apply.
1m³ = 1,000 litres. Use 12 months of readings, or annualise a representative bill period.
Convert a daily pence rate: pence × 365 ÷ 100.
Include applicable drainage/highway charges; avoid counting bundled charges twice.
Use your supplier’s allowance. 100% assumes all measured water is charged as wastewater.
Use the same services and year for a fair meter comparison.
Enter usage and all applicable tariffs to see an estimate. Rates must be zero or above, household size a positive whole number, and sewer percentage between 0 and 100.
Flat unit rates held constant for 365 days. Excludes tiered/seasonal tariffs, rebates, special tariffs, bill adjustments and future price changes. Check meter trial and compulsory-metering rules with your supplier before switching.
Average bills and your actual bill
Water UK’s published 2026/27 average combined household bill for England and Wales is £639 a year, or £53.25 a month when divided by 12. It is a benchmark across households, not a tariff or a prediction for a one-, two- or four-person home. Water-only averages exclude sewerage and cannot be compared directly with that combined total.
How a metered bill is calculated
Annual water standing charge + water usage in m³ × water rate + annual sewerage fixed charges + chargeable wastewater in m³ × sewerage rate. Your bill may include a wastewater allowance and surface-water/highway drainage charges. Use the exact units and tariff period printed on your bill.
Would a meter save money?
Compare an estimate using your actual supplier’s tariffs with your own annual unmetered bill. Household size alone cannot establish a saving. Ask your supplier about installation, trial rights and compulsory metering: many voluntary customers can trial a meter for up to two years, but a switch back is not available everywhere.
High bills or difficulty paying
Check whether readings are actual or estimated, whether the billing period changed and whether usage increased. Report suspected leaks and ask who is responsible and whether a leakage allowance applies. Ask your supplier about its social tariff, WaterSure where applicable and payment support. Eligibility and discounts vary.
Sources checked 2 October 2026: Water UK average bill publication, CCW help with bills, CCW meter trial guidance.
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