Water may fall from the sky in the North, but it's not rainwater that comes out of the tap at home.

The lack of water meters is a legacy thing. Water companies all over the UK (including the North) are trying to migrate consumers away from unmetered tariffs. For example: https://www.nwl.co.uk/your-home/your-account/considering-a-w...

And in case you think the water companies are just as happy if you're on an unmetered tariff: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/water-m...