The basic document that regulates the consumption of hot and cold water per person per month is the government decree dated 05.23.06 No. 306. Taking into account the fact that utilities have the right to raise standards, it is not profitable to pay for water supply without devices that take into account the flow rate. . The cost of installing meters quickly pays off, because the meters can significantly save on utility bills. With them, the consumer will pay only for the actually consumed amount of water.
Average monthly water consumption
The amount of water consumed every month differs depending on:
- local climate;
- seasonality;
- maxima and minima of the load;
- equipping living space with appliances;
- device functionality;
- individual preferences of residents.
In hot regions, water consumption is greater, compared with the northern regions, the same applies to the summer period.
When installing a dishwasher and washing machine, water consumption increases at times, and an ordinary drain tank with two buttons can save up to 20 percent of water resources. The presence of leaks in any plumbing fixture leads to an increase in water costs by 15-30 percent.
Water consumption rate without meter
If the internal water supply network is not equipped with measuring devices, the owner will have to pay for water supply at average rates. They are determined depending on the norms of fluid consumption by one person every month.
In an apartment building
Calculation of standard values is based on human needs. The norm of cold water consumption per person per month without a meter is set at 6.935 cubic meters.
A similar figure was not taken from the ceiling, but was experimentally calculated based on water consumption for certain needs. It is assumed that one person spends a certain amount of liquid per day:
- cooking - 3 l;
- half-hour shower - 30 l;
- bathing in the bath - 200 l;
- toilet use - 15 l;
- machine washable - 4.16 L;
- other unforeseen needs - 500 l.
A weekly waste of washing, brushing, shaving is 200 liters.
Representatives of the housing and communal services sector can increase all these values depending on the regional climate, season and condition of the water supply network, but not more than twice.
The average daily cost of hot water is approximately 140 liters. The norm that is set for each month is 3000 liters or 4.745 cubic meters. Utilities also have the right to double these indicators. Heating costs are calculated separately.
If there is no domestic hot water in a residential building, the consumption of cold water will increase several times, because it will be heated by gas or electric columns. In housing funds of this type, daily consumption is set at 330 liters per person. Each month, approximately 10,230 liters are released, the hourly limit is 13.75 liters.
In a private house
For owners of private households, the standards for using a shower, bath, toilet, cleaning and washing costs are approved by the municipal and regional authorities. They are based on the average daily statistics and expert analysis. Statistical values are not constant. They can vary depending on the season, pollution of the bowels in a particular area.
Vodokanal uses a non-uniformity coefficient when keeping records.It is used together with the calculation of the total number of people who are registered in the house, and building requirements.
Experts analyze not only the daily volume of actually consumed water, but also the sanitary coefficient, which depends on the state of the environment, as well as the volume of subsoil. The calculation of household water consumption also includes the costs of cleaning, watering the garden, kitchen garden. Therefore, usually the norms for private houses are slightly overstated, unlike apartment houses, and it is beneficial for their owners to set water meters.
If measuring devices are not embedded, water charges are charged according to these standards for each tenant who is registered in an apartment building or in a private property. At the same time, the square of the living space does not play any role, as well as whether someone lives in the apartment or house or not. The owner of the “squares” is obliged to pay a fee in accordance with the total number of persons registered in his housing or install a water meter.
The normative values of water consumption are calculated in detail in SNiP 2.04.01-85. There are also indicated flow rates of water and wastewater by plumbing fixtures.
The choice of water meters
Water meters are high-precision metering devices that are used to measure the volume of water passing through the water supply.
When purchasing a water meter, make sure that it is accompanied by a data sheet that contains basic information and design indicators, the average operating period, and also indicates the timing. There is a mark on the first calibration of the meter.
Pay attention to the production date and service life of the device. Sometimes UK when calculating the intervals for checking water meters take as a basis not the time of the first verification, but the date of manufacture of the device. However, it can lie in the warehouse for several years.
In residential premises, it is allowed to install water meters for the consumption of cold water and hot water, which are included in the State Register of measuring instruments. Information on this is indicated in the accompanying documentation of the device.
Before installing the metering device, it will be necessary to coordinate with the UK the terms during which installation work will be performed. This is necessary so that their plumber shuts off the water supply. Otherwise, during the installation of devices there is a danger of flooding of both their own and neighboring housing.
Management companies can set their own requirements and specifications for the installation of individual water meters. Therefore, it is better if the inset deals with their representative. If you do not comply with the technical conditions that are issued by the Criminal Code, the counters simply will not be registered, and the act of commissioning will not be signed.
Savings on installing water meters
The installation of measuring devices on cold water and hot water supply is a requirement that is required for all consumers to fulfill energy resources. The owner of the apartment faces financial costs to tie in the equipment, but as a result he remains the winner.
In houses where there is one common riser, two meters of water consumption are usually required - for hot and cold water supply. In houses with two risers, it will be necessary to put four water meters: a pair for hot water and cold water. Accordingly, the volume of work and their cost are increasing.
In addition, water measuring devices will need to be believed. For this, they call a specialist of the housing and communal services department or the Criminal Code. It can also result in additional financial costs. But in practice, all the costs associated with the installation of water meters are fully offset by the savings in the payment of communal services for only a few months.
If you think that having installed metering devices, it will be necessary to reduce water consumption, then this is not so. All that is needed is to check all points of water consumption, for example, mixers for leaks, so that water does not flow in vain. Even with daily washing, cleaning and bathing, you are unlikely to exceed the standard amount.
Studies have shown that a family of four on the meters consumes no more than 8 cubes of hot water and 12 - cold. If they had to pay bills according to the standards, the indicators would be 19 and 27.6 cubic meters, respectively. That is, the standard consumption rate is overvalued more than 2 times. Not to mention the psychological effect that occurs after the installation of the counter. When specific numbers are visible, there is a desire to save. After 2-3 months of operation, the figure of 10 cubic meters is reduced by about 35 percent.
Another advantage of installing water meters is saving time in preparation for a vacation or business trip. You do not need to write a statement to the management company and provide documentary evidence of your absence. With water measuring devices, such problems will not arise - the owner will pay only for the actual expense.
Installation of meters does not take much time. To squeeze heavily in water use, as practice shows, is not necessary. Conventional hygiene and care procedures do not take as much fluid as the regulations suggest.
To whom metering devices are not profitable
In rare cases, the installation of water meters does not lead to a decrease, but to an increase in the numbers in payment receipts. This may be due to:
- with the injection of water from its own well or well, which does not require a license;
- with the habit of leaving cranes open for a long time without any benefit;
- with more than registered number of people living in the apartment.
With an abundance of non-registered residents, you still have to pay more: almost all apartment buildings are equipped with communal metering devices that show the total amount of water consumed. The CC itself will not pay for it, but will redistribute the costs to all residents of the apartment building.
Measuring instruments save water, but also bring some trouble. So, timely transfer of meter indicators to an organization charged with payments is required. It is also necessary to regularly check the apparatus.
