Cambridge Water is set to roll out water meters to its customers in H&I and has introduced a hosepipe ban this week in response to recent back-to-back heatwaves.
The moves are a reaction to rising demand for water, with the company admitting that water is being used faster than it can be treated and distributed.
The new measures are set to curb customers’ water use, in response to what the company describes as the “combined challenges of climate change, population growth, and increasing demand for new housing developments”.
Smarter use?
Cambridge Water customers have received emails and a leaflet notifying them that compulsory meters will be installed “in their area soon”.
A water meter is a small device fitted to the water supply that measures exactly how much water is used, so customers are only billed for the water consumed.
The email from Cambridge Water states that the installation of meters will help achieve fair, accurate billing; improved leak detection; put the user in control and protect nature by reducing waste.
Essential purposes
Cambridge Water is asking customers to only use water for essential purposes at this time including hygiene, cooking and staying hydrated. It is also implementing a temporary hosepipe ban – which will be legally enforced from Friday 17 July.
Cambridge Water customers will need to stop using hosepipes for the following non-essential activities:
- watering gardens
- filling ponds, fountains, paddling pools, swimming pools, hot tubs or cold-water plunge pools
- washing cars, patios or windows
Allotment users are also not permitted to use a hosepipe under the terms of the ban unless the allotment is used to provide food that is sold – classed as crops.
However, customers can use water that is not sourced from mains supply, such as rainwater from a water butt. They can also continue the activities above if using water from a bucket or a watering can.
The ban will apply to most customers but there are some exemptions for people that rely on hosepipe use for health, safety or operational needs.
Individuals make a difference
Cambridge Water said: “We are incredibly proud to serve such a supportive community. By working together now, we can help ensure resilient water supplies for our communities both this summer and into the future.
“Individual actions can and have already made a significant difference. Every shorter shower, every hosepipe left in the shed, every garden watered less frequently and every small decision to save water adds up”.
For more information visit cambridge-water.co.uk/meters; for terms of the hosepipe ban visit here; for ways to save water visit here.
READ ALSO: Call for Parish Council to recommit to Climate Emergency | HI HUB
I’ve emailed them for a likely cost comparison for a family of four, pre and post meter. As they haven’t replied, I’m assuming it will be (substantially) more, but would be nice to have an idea.
Anyone got any figures?
Do keep us posted on anything they send. We could try to investigate over the weeks ahead too.
Amanda, Editor.
We already have a “dinosaur” water meter, quoting an attendant engineer who attended to fix a burst main feed on our property.
Subsequent successful post-repair tests reflected metered water usage after one month, for just myself and partner, equivalent to a family of five, suggesting an over-reading meter and excess charges.
Over three months on from requesting a water meter replacement, we’re still waiting for a confirmed replacement date, so we continue with potential over-charging.
Furthermore, I requested a water sub-meter for our outside tap, to avoid paying Anglia Water +90% on top for garden water that was not returned for waste processing. After a week I received an email to say that they will get back within ten days. Still waiting…
Saving water is certainly one thing, though I hope saving customer’s money will also ultimately receive the same attention.