Galina Kovtun, a pensioner from Kropyvnitsky, lives alone in a two -room apartment. She was used to saving: she washes dishes in a bowl, does not put under the crane, she washed the laundry once a week, she takes a shower quickly. According to her, about 1–1.5 cubes of cold water and a little less than one cube of hot, it comes out monthly. But the payment insists: according to the norm - 4.5 cubic meters of cold and 3 cubic meters of hot. “I do not use so much physically,” she says. - And it should pay. Why?

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The norm to which the consumer does not reach.

Water consumption standards in Ukraine are approved on the basis of the resolution of Cabinet No. 1107 of August 25, 2004 and decisions of local authorities. Today they look, for example, in Kyiv, as follows: cold water - 4.5 m? per person per month, hot - 3.0 m? There are still social standards of consumption: cold water - 2.4 m? in the presence of centralized hot water supply and 4.0 m? - In its absence; Hot water - 1.6 m? These norms are used to calculate benefits and subsidies for utilities.

But in real life, if you look at the average indicators from the apartments where the counters stand, we get another picture: cold water - 3-5 m? per person; hot - 1-2 m?

This means that some consumers (without meters) for these indicators do not reach standards. And, paying according to the norm, they actually cover water in payment, which was not used.

We consider the payment of a pensioner. Take the tariff for Kyiv as of August 2025: cold water - 30.38 UAH/m? Hot - depending on the heat supply company from 75.96 UAH to 97.89 UAH/m? (take a conditionally 97.89 UAH/m?

According to the counter, the calculation is as follows: cold water - 4 m? 30.38? 121.52 UAH; hot - 1.8 m? 97.89? 176.20 UAH. Together: 297.72 UAH/month. , or 3573 UAH/year.

According to the norm: cold water - 4.5 m? 30.38? 136.71 UAH; hot - 3.0 m? 97.89 UAH \u003d 293.67 UAH. Together: 430.38 UAH/MIS. , or 5165 UAH/year.

Difference - almost 1592 UAH for a year.

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Why standards do not reduce?

Experts explain: the standards were formed when in everyday life they actively used baths, washing machines with a large consumption of water, and water prices were penny. Today the situation is different: the modern technique is economical, many prefer shower, and tariffs have grown ten times. However, changes to the standards are made slowly, and in some cities they have not been reviewed at all for years.

And then a suspicion arises: the overestimated standard is beneficial to the water utilities. The payment is put on the norm for volume, which is not always realized, and the calculation for such subscribers is simple - without checking the fact of use.

Social dimension.

The problem is that most often those who do not have the opportunity to install the counter are paid according to the norm: people in old houses with technically complex risers; tenants who are not allowed by the owner; low -income, who do not have a trite money for the device and its installation.

As a result, a paradox is obtained: economical poor pays more, and wealthy consumers with meters can regulate expenses and pay only for actual consumption.

Counter: savings or expenses?

“I put the counter in 2020,” says Kyivian Mikhail Shpak. - At first I rejoiced: instead of 300 hryvnias, I began to pay 180. And then four years later - verification. Paid almost 700 hryvnias. Plus dismantling and installation. That is, he saved at first, and then returned part of the savings back to the water utility "

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How much does the counter cost.

The price consists of several parts.

The water meter itself is of different manufacturers.

The cheapest Ukrainian production models are from 550 UAH. Import brands - 700–900 UAH.

Installation.

On average 500-1000 UAH (depending on the complexity of work and the region).

Pimbing and registration.

In some cities for free, in others - another 200-400 UAH.

Thus, a full set from scratch can cost from 1200 to 2000 UAH.

Verification - mandatory "

According to the current rules (Order of the Ministry of Economic Development No. 193 dated 08. 02. 2016), verification of cold and hot water meters is carried out every four years.

Verification options.

Without dismantling - from 450 to 700 UAH.

With dismantling (when there is no technical access to the device) - 700–1200 UAH.

Some water utilities provide a turnkey check service, but then the amount often exceeds 1000 UAH.

When the counter pays off?

Let's go back with a pensioner. The difference between the payment is normal and for the actual consumption of approximately 1,1600 UAH per year (hot and cold water meters). The cost of installing one is from 1,500 UAH.

So, payback about two years. But after four years - verification that increases the payback time. If we take the real consumption of water and take into account that not one person lives in the apartment, but several, then, respectively, with the calculations given, the savings will be 1600 UAH, multiplied by the number of people, that is, the counter will pay off, the benefit will also be.

Why are some people against counters?

Start expenses: for those who live from retirement to retirement, even 1,500 UAH (for one counter) - the amount is unbearable.

Periodic verification: additional costs of four years. Technical complexity: In old houses or in the absence of access to risers, installation is impossible without overhaul.

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Why others - for?

Control of expenses: the counter disciplines, makes you think about every extra minute under the crane.

Protection against unjust accruals: if the house has registered but missing residents, payment “according to normal” can double.

Real savings: for families who consume few, the counter pays off quickly.

What the experts say.

Experts offer several options for facilitating the fate of lonely residents:.

Revision of standards - bring them in line with real average consumption.

State or local compensation programs - free installation of meters for low -income and pensioners.

Electronic registry of charges - in order to avoid confusion with terms and double payment.

A phased transition is 100% accounting - as in the EU countries, where no one pays "

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European experience.

“In France and Germany, there is no concept of“ the norm in the apartment, ”says Alexey Savchenko, water supply and energy expert. “Everyone pays for actual consumption, and the tariffs are transparent and tied to the real cost of water, maintenance of pipes and environmental payments”.

How it works in the EU.

100 percent accounting. In many European cities, counters are installed in every apartment, even in old houses.

Social tariffs. Low -income receive state assistance if consumption exceeds a critical indicator.

Automated verification systems. Counters often transmit data online, which removes the dismantling issue and additional payments for verification.

Transparency. The consumer sees accurate expenses, can plan savings, and state and municipal authorities control the tariff policy.

“We do not pay for the norm, but pay for the water that we really consumed,” adds a resident of Berlin Ms. Elizabeth.

***.

Thus, the problem of water is not only a matter of pipes and tariffs. This is a mirror of social policy. Today, the choice between “paying according to normal” and “set the counter” for many is the choice between additional expenses now and potential savings tomorrow. But so far the state does not make this choice more simple, having revised the norms and supporting those who cannot install the metering device, arithmetic in payments for pensioners will remain unfair.

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