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Especially in dry summer periods you cannot avoid using tap water for garden irrigation. It is worth installing a garden water meter so that you can save the waste water fee and thus money.

In a nutshell

  • separate water meter saves sewage fees
  • only use calibrated and officially approved water meters
  • Local rules and regulations vary
  • Do-it-yourself installation is not possible everywhere
  • Cost savings dependent on various factors

Reasons & Benefits

The way a garden water meter works is basically very simple: You only pay the water fee and save on the sewage fees, since the irrigation water ultimately seeps into the ground and does not have to be reprocessed. Thus, a separate water meter for the garden has tangible advantages, because it saves money. Your water supplier will usually charge you twice for every cubic meter of tap water, with the sewage fees being many times higher due to the costs of treatment. Since there is no waste water in the garden, the supplier deducts the waste water fee for tap water used there from the bill. If you have a large garden that requires a lot of water, this can save you several hundred euros per year.

Tip: It is even cheaper if you build a well in the garden or collect rainwater in cisterns. However, well construction is only worthwhile if the groundwater is just below the surface.

Regulations & Conditions

However, you must not simply install the separate water meter as you please. Each municipality or municipality has specific regulations in this regard, which you must meticulously comply with if you want to save money with the garden water meter and avoid getting into trouble. This includes finding out about the applicable regulations and requirements from the local water supplier in advance. These are always based on local statutes, which can often be viewed online or upon request. Although the regulations in Germany differ from each other, there are some commonalities that apply to all of them:

Water clock in the garden
  • only officially approved and calibrated water meters are permitted
  • Garden owner is responsible for installation
  • Ask the landlord in the case of leasehold gardens or in an apartment building
  • Meter must be checked regularly by utility or municipality
  • Recalibration or meter replacement is due every six years
  • Compliance with the hygiene regulations of the Drinking Water Ordinance

The latter relates primarily to the risk of legionella, which multiplies very quickly, especially in warm summer temperatures, and causes serious health complications. Regular maintenance and changing the meter, in turn, also incurs fees, but these are usually between around 30 and 100 euros - the exact amount depends on your supplier.

installation

There are several ways to get a garden water meter:

  • Buy and install the meter yourself at a hardware store
  • Installation by a specialist company
  • Buy meters from the utility or rent them

So that the water for the garden is correctly billed (and you don't get into trouble during a check), you must mount the meter on the outside water pipe. There are also various options here: Some water meters are permanently installed, while others are simply screwed on. However, they all have to be sealed. Also make sure that the meter is installed indoors if possible, otherwise you will have to dismantle it in winter - it must not be exposed to frost, otherwise it will break.

Notice: You are not allowed to read the meter yourself and transmit the values to the supplier in all municipalities. In some cases, the utility itself takes care of the annual meter reading.

Water consumption & savings

How much money you can actually save with the garden water meter depends on various factors:

  • size of the garden
  • type of planting
  • soil type
  • Weather / frequency of precipitation
  • sewage fee

Basically, gardens with sandy or well-drained soils have a higher water consumption than gardens with loamy soils. They store rainwater better, which is why you don't have to water your plants as often. The type of planting also plays a major role in water consumption and thus in the costs: A lawn, for example, requires much more watering than a rock garden or prairie garden. Your cost savings through a separate water meter can therefore vary greatly, depending on how you feel about the circumstances mentioned.

frequently asked Questions

Who installs the garden water meter?

As a rule, the garden owner is responsible for installing the garden water meter himself, since the local water supplier does not take on this task. However, you can commission a specialist company to do this, but the supplier must accept the outdoor water meter. This costs additional fees.

How is the garden water meter billed?

In order for the outdoor water meter to be billed, you must read it according to the specifications of your supplier and inform them in writing of the amount of water used. Your utility will deduct the calculated wastewater fee from your water bill.

How much does a separate water meter for the garden cost?

If you have the water meter installed in the garden by a specialist company, you should expect costs of between around 75 and 150 euros. But you also have the security that the work will be carried out correctly. In addition, if the worst comes to the worst, for example if the water pipe is subsequently damaged, you can make use of the statutory warranty. This is not the case with self-installation.

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Category:

Garden maintenance