Timothy Murphy wrote:
Probably OT, but my attention was drawn by a posting on water meters,
and it made me wonder again
why water meters are not a standard part of the water supply?

Every year one reads of water shortages in parts of the UK
(not so much in Ireland, but it is not unknown here).
One would have thought a charge by water usage
would be an obvious response.
I was staying in a relative's house in Brussels,
and they had an enormous meter in the basement,
which I assume is standard there.

Are water meters inordinately expensive?
Or do they have some disadvantage?

Because its more cost effective when the meter is supplying for just one
person, but is expensive when their is a family of four and up.

Incidently should you get a water meter installed in your house and you come
to sell the house prospective buyers will be put off by this as the meter
once installed cannot be taken out.