If you aren’t connected to the sewer system, you don’t have to pay a highway drainage charge.
Some of you will not be connected to a public sewer system; for example, you may have a private system or be on a septic tank. Since you would be using the network less often, we will not charge any fees for highway drainage.
We can only charge you for the services you actually use, so if you don’t think you’re on our sewer network, please let us know. We will look into the matter and make sure you are charged fairly according to your connection type.
Surface Water and Highway Drainage
Surface water drainage occurs when rainwater or melted snow falls on a property’s ground and eventually drains away.
Most rainwater that falls on properties drains away through the public sewers owned by one of the 10 water and sewerage companies in England and Wales. These organisations are responsible for collecting and purifying the rainwater. Your sewerage bill may include a fee for surface water drainage if rainfall on your property flows into a public sewer.
In some instances, the rainwater from a property does not flow into the public sewer but is drained away by gutters and other means into a private system or onto the ground. In these cases, the surface water drainage is the responsibility of the property owner.
You may be charged for surface water drainage in one of the following ways:
- A standing charge on your water bill
- A variable charge that depends on the volume of water you use
- Charges depending on your property’s rateable value
- A charge related to the kind of property you have
You may be eligible for a surface water drainage rebate if rainfall on your property does not flow into a public sewer because you have installed a soakaway or something similar. Soakaways are usually installed to drain rainwater from gutters away from a property into the ground.
Your company provides details on its website on the criteria for and amount of any rebate in its charges plan.
If you think you have a private sewer but are not sure, you can contact the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for advice.
Applying for a Surface Water Drainage Rebate
You may be eligible for a reduction on your sewerage bill if no surface water from your property flows into a public sewer.
Companies often are not aware of the surface water drainage arrangements of individual properties in their service area. This means that rebate applications are typically required so the company can assess whether a property is eligible.
The eligibility criteria and application process for a surface water drainage rebate vary by company. However, most companies require applicants to provide details such as the property address, type of property, and whether the property is connected to a public sewer. You may also be required to submit a site plan that shows the surface water drainage arrangements of your property.
It is important to note that even if you are eligible for a rebate, you may still be charged a standing charge for surface water drainage. This charge is typically a fixed amount that is independent of the volume of water you use.
We can help you prove that no surface water from your property has been discharged into the public sewer. If your water company qualifies, you may be eligible for a historic rebate, and future bills will not include charges for surface water drainage.
In certain cases, your company is aware or could have reasonably been expected to be aware, that your property does not drain surface water into its sewage system. In this situation, the rebate (and refund for any overpayment) should be applied back to the date when the company found out or could have reasonably been expected to have found out that your property was not connected to the public sewer.
If you have any questions or require any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our team would be more than happy to help you in any way possible.