Derek Needham, 77, from Fairfield, Liverpool, fears he and his wife Gloria will lose her cherished garden after United Utilities said it would install a water meter at his home. He told the Liverpool Echo that his wife, 80, has spent decades cultivating thousands of flowers for the community.
Concerns over rising costs
Mr Needham said the company wrote to him two weeks ago stating the meter installation would go ahead on August 16. He fears his monthly bill, already £45 after a 14% increase in April, will rise further.
He said: "We have thousands of flowers in our garden, which my wife loves and has looked after them for years. I'm upset that the flowers are going to die because we won't be able to afford to water them with this meter. Our bill went up in April by 14%, I already pay £45 every month for our water, I can't afford to pay more, I'm out of options."
Community impact
Mr Needham added: "My wife is 80, she loves gardening, she takes so much pride in her garden and has spent her life taking care of it. With the meter we can't afford to pay for the water to water the plants, all the plants are going to die. There will be no plants left in Liverpool, what are we supposed to do?"
He also worried that if the flowers die, the alleyway behind his home will look untidy, saying: "If all my wife's flowers die the alleyway will look a tip. She's worked so hard to make this area nice for everyone."
United Utilities response
A United Utilities spokesperson said the company is fitting meters across the North West as part of a programme to tackle leakage and better understand water usage. They said: "The programme will help us improve leakage control while also giving customers greater insight into their own water use."
The company also highlighted its Lowest Bill Guarantee, which allows customers to try a meter without financial risk. For the first two years, customers will not pay more than they would have on their existing non-metered charges, and they can switch back if they haven't made a saving.
Customers concerned about the meter or bill affordability are encouraged to contact the company's customer service team.
