A LANDMARK scheme to install 500,000 water meters in Hampshire and the South has entered its next major phase.

Southern Water has fitted more than 130,000 of the devices to homes in the county in just four years.

Now engineers will be visiting thousands of households to fit units at properties requiring a more complicated operation.

The firm is installing 500,000 meters in the county and neighbouring Sussex and Kent as part of a 25-year plan to save thousands of litres of precious water and tackle anticipated future shortages.

Bosses claim customers using the units save an average of 38 litres of water a day – the equivalent of running 173 baths per person.

Teams have almost finished linking up properties serviced by new water meters fitted under public footpaths.

Now they have begun connecting homes which require the meters installed directly inside their properties.

Internal connection can be required for many reasons, but normally occurs if the customer’s building shares a service pipe with other properties.

Southern Water is aiming to carry out these vital works with as little disruption as possible.

The firm’s chief customer officer Darren Bentham moved to reassure people and said: “If we need to gain access to a customer’s property we will contact them directly about booking an installation appointment.

“With this in mind I would stress that everyone working on Southern Water’s metering programme carries identification and customers should always ask to see this before allowing anyone into their home. If customers are suspicious they should telephone us to confirm the employee’s identity.”

Metered customers use around 126 litres per day in total compare to 164 litres by those without them.

They also save an estimated £12 a month and benefit from cheaper energy bills as heating water makes up around 30 per cent of energy bills.

Contact 0333 2003 014 to find out about the programme.