HOMES across the Romsey area are next to have water meters installed, water bosses have revealed.

Southern Water will be going to the town as part of its five-year programme to install the devices, pictured, to the majority of its customers.

Work will take place in Cupernham, Woodley and Whitenap from later this month, with about 4,000 new meters being put in by the autumn. Households in and around North Baddesley will also receive their meters in the coming months.

However, to avoid disruption to a number of local events, work will not be carried out in the SO51 8 postcode area, which includes central Romsey, until the winter.

The majority of meters will be installed in the pavement outside people’s homes.

The company is installing more than 500,000 water meters across Hampshire, Sussex and Kent as part of its long-term plans to secure water resources for customers in the region, set to be complete by 2015.

It is thought that people on a water meter tend to use ten per cent less water.

The programme started in Southampton and moved to the New Forest and so far more than 65,000 meters have been installed.

Southern Water has introduced new tariffs to support customers whose bills may go up as a result.

Southern Water customer service teams will deliver information packs to households before water meters arrive, and advisors will be on hand on the day of installation to answer questions and provide advice on water efficiency, energy savings and metered bills.

To find out more log on to southernwater.co.uk/metering or call 0333 2003 013.