Water usage scheme

Yes, this helps us gain the consumption data we require for the scheme, but this data is not used for any billing purposes, and you will remain on a rateable value water bill.

No, you would only be billed on a meter in the future if you request to do so.

Yes, after one year we can calculate how much water has been used and check to see if you would benefit from having a meter for billing purposes.

 If you want a comparison of your rateable value and what you would pay on a meter, contact the DCM Team at dcm@yorkshirewater.co.uk to gain this information. This information can only be provided to the DCM customer.

Please note that if you decide to move onto a metered bill arrangement, you would no longer receive the benefit of the £50 annual credit towards your bill.

We require our customers to complete the water usage survey every annually whilst you remain on the scheme. Our engineer may also need to check the meter and logger from time to time but we would not need to contact you regarding this as our equipment is external.

No, unfortunately your property is not eligible if you are already on a meter for billing purposes. Across the Yorkshire area there are around 1 million properties that have a meter and around 1 million that don’t have a meter. While we know how much water metered properties use, we have to estimate how much water the unmetered properties use. We can’t base this estimate on the water used by metered properties because these properties have different water usage habits and typically use less water than unmetered properties.

Our intention isn’t to penalise any of our customers - it’s just that we need to estimate how much water unmetered properties in Yorkshire use, and we already know how much properties with a water meter use.

We require customers to take part in the scheme for at least a year.  Currently there is no end date to the scheme, and it’s been running for around 25 years (some of our participants have been on the scheme since the start). 

No, participants will not have to keep the meter once they finish on the scheme. We require customers to stay on the scheme for at least a year. While taking part in the scheme, customers continue to pay based on the rateable value of their house, and when they withdraw from the scheme, they can either carry on paying by rateable value or opt to pay by meter. The choice is theirs.

Once we receive your interest in joining the scheme, we will ask you for your property details to check if it is eligible. If it is, we will need to install an external water meter which will only be used for the purpose of the scheme and will not change how you currently use or pay for your water. Otherwise, we will let you know in writing if your property isn’t eligible for the scheme.

If the meter can’t be installed on your existing external stop tap, then we will need to install a small chamber. Our engineers would discuss this with you, agree with you the most suitable location for this to be installed and confirm that you are happy for us to proceed.

We won’t require access to your house at any point but would prefer you to be on site at the time of installation so our engineers can confirm that the install has been successful, and your property is a single supply.

Once our equipment has been installed and we are receiving data, we’ll send you a short survey form to complete and return. On return of the survey, we will then credit £50 to your billing account.

Your water usage data and the annual water usage survey is solely for internal use and will not be shared with third parties.

No, unfortunately not. Many of the customers in these types of properties pay for their water and sewerage services as part of their rent and so it will be very difficult to credit these customers who don’t have a direct account with us. It also wouldn’t be straightforward for the local authorities/councils/housing associations if we tried to credit residents via them.

Yes you can, providing that you first ask the property owner for their permission to have a water meter installed outside and give them the details about the scheme.

If your house has a joint supply, there will be just one stop tap outside in the footpath or road for two or more properties. If your house is on a single supply, then there should be a stop tap outside each house.

If you are not sure if you are on a joint supply, we will require you to be present at your property so our engineer can check.

Unfortunately, not. Part of the scheme includes installing a meter on the water pipe outside your property, which we attach our equipment to. We need to routinely access the meter and equipment to maintain it, so this needs to be external to your property in your garden or footpath.

We will credit your account £50 each year for taking part in the scheme and completing the annual water usage survey at the end of the financial year (March/April).

Businesses should already have a water meter, but the aim of the scheme is to estimate how much water unmetered household properties use and not business usage.   

Yes, you would, and you would be made aware via a letter of notice, this is for your awareness only and no penalties would be issued but repairing the leak is beneficial for your property and helps us to reduce leakage on our network.