Pensioner's tip for water users

By Neil Gallacher BBC South West Business Correspondent

Washing dishes every time is not necessary, Ms Lacey says

Mary Lacey is 70-years-old. She is a pensioner, great-grandmother, and a canny water user.

She feels for people like herself who are on fixed incomes and who may well be struggling with their water bills.

But through her involvement with Plymouth Senior Citizen's Forum, Mary has switched to a water meter and learned a thing or two about coping.

"When you're on your own, you don't need to wash the dishes every time," she said.

"Clothes washing is the same - you can wait until you need to.

"It's a good thing for people who are limited in income to be on a water meter. I did actually enquire whether people could have a slot meter, but that would be too expensive.

"I have spoken to pensioners on meters who say they're afraid to turn the tap on, but if you use water sensibly you can save quite a bit."

In fact, South West Water's figures show that the average household switching to a water meter saves £400 a year.

Mary Lacey believes people on a limited income should have a meter

The price limits proposed by Ofwat would knock an extra £30, in today's prices, off an average year's bill by 2015.

In Mary's view, that could be well worth having.

"In some households that's five meals for the week - five lunches or five evening meals," she said.

"People don't realise what the situation is for wages down here.

"The ones that are earning the good pay, it doesn't really impact on them.

"The impact is on the lower-income people who don't have savings behind them and still have commitments to meet."

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