IT’S a £83m scheme to save water across Hampshire – but residents are already discovering there will be financial losers as well as winners.

Yesterday Southern Water began installing the first free water meters in Archery Grove, Southampton – the first of 140,000 meters to be fitted in homes across southern Hampshire by 2014.

It’s the biggest ever change to water charging in the area and Southern Water say homes fitted with meters use as much as 10 per cent less water.

The company also claims paying for water used is fairer than the current system of using the rateable value of a property to help calculate bills.

But while some residents will benefit under the new scheme – making savings of more than £5 a month or £60 a year – others will find themselves paying equivalent amounts or more compared with their current water bill.

In Archery Grove, Tracy Bailey, a 40-year old mother of three, said: “I’m going to pay around £250 more than I currently do for my water. I’ve talked to my boys about saving water because I’m not in a position to afford an increase in bills.”

But neighbour Ben Cummins, 30, said: “I think it is pretty fair for everybody. My 70-year-old neighbour lives on his own and I have a family of three children. His bill will drop and mine will probably go up a little bit. Overall I think it will be fairer for everybody.”

Southern Water has said it will help those struggling to switch over to the new system by offering two new tariffs.

Darren Bentham, director of metering at Southern Water, said: “The Changeover Tariff is open to all customers and will introduce the increase gradually over a two year period.

“The second is the Support Tariff. If a customer is recommended for this they will see their bill capped at the equivalent rateable value bill.”

Southern Water has come under fire from residents after figures revealed they waste up to 95m litres of water a day.

Chris Parker, a 60-year-old grandmother, said: “They should stop their leaks and wastage before targeting customers. They are going to profit from the introduction of water meters and we are expected to pay for it.”

Meyrick Gough, water resources manager for Southern Water, said: “Regardless of leakages, metering acts as a fairer way to pay for a lot of customers because they only pay for what they use and it puts them in control of their bills.”

Southern Water say about 30 per cent of its metered customers will see their bills go down by more than £5 per month, about six per cent will see their bills reduced by between £3.30 per month and £5 per month and seven per cent will have a bill reduction of between £3.30 and £1.60 per month.

A further seven per cent will see a reduction of around £1.60 per month, say the company while these reductions will be broadly mirrored by similar increases in bills for those who will be paying more.