UK Water and household utilities
Paying your water bill can seem like blackmail - you can't change your water company
and there seems no way of escaping those escalating bills. However, you do have a choice in the way your water is charged for. You can pay the annual bill (commonly referred to as your Water Rate) OR you can elect to have a water meter fitted and pay just for the amount of water you use. Most households in England, Wales, and Scotland are entitled to switch to a meter on request free of charge.
It could well be that your children have flown the nest, and your household now uses a lot less water than it once did. Accordingly, you should contact your local water company and get their tariffs, do the sums and you might may be able to save some money.