Thames Water will start installing controversial “smart meters” at homes across Waltham Forest this month.

The utility company will begin fitting the devices as part of a compulsory programme to meter every property in the borough “within the next few years”.

The scheme will see around 56,000 meters installed in Waltham Forest, in a bid to reduce water usage and improve leakage detection.

Danny Leamon, Thames Water’s head of metering, said: “Our smart metering programme has already saved millions of litres in other London boroughs and we’ll be doing the same in Waltham Forest. 

“This is good news for customers, who will have access to new technology to help them reduce their water usage and bills, and great news for the environment, as there are increasing pressures on our water sources.

“Over the next few months we’ll be in touch with customers to let them know what’s happening and we’ll also have a team out and about to answer any questions in person.”

A pilot phase of the scheme was launched in February and more than 6,000 meters have so far been installed in Waltham Forest.

A four-year independent study carried out on the metering programme by Southern Water found customers used 16 per cent less water once a meter had been installed.

The firm say more than 500,000 litres, the equivalent of nearly 7,000 baths full of water, has been saved in Enfield each day since it launched the scheme in the borough in 2015.

Thames Water will place all its customers on water meters by 2030, with plans being rolled out first in areas where the most water is expected to be saved, such as Waltham Forest.

Government guidelines state no water company is required to introduce compulsory metering.

However, companies can chose to adopt the measure if an area is identified as a: “serious water stress”.

Critics of the compulsory installations say it could lead to rising bills, or residents being forced to unreasonably ration their water usage.

For more information, visit: thameswater.co.uk/mymeter.

  • Are you on a smart meter? Unhappy you're having one fitted at your home? Let us know what you think, email our reporter: thomas.barnes@london.newsquest.co.uk.