What is surface water?
Surface water is the water that falls as rain and is collected by drains and gullies on your property and removed by United Utilities, via a public sewer, protecting your property from damage. However, if you can show that no surface water from your property drains to a public sewer, you may be entitled to a reduction in charges.
You could be entitled to a reduction if:
- All the rainwater from your roof or shared roof drains directly to the ground via a soakaway to both the front or rear of your property and
- All the rainwater or ground water from your garden or hard standing areas e.g. drive, patio or yard, drains directly to the ground.
- All the rainwater or ground water from your property drains directly into a watercourse, brook or stream.
- You pay a third party e.g. British Waterways to dispose of your surface water.
We've included a diagram to illustrate a property that may be entitled to a reduction.
You are not entitled to a reduction if:
- Any proportion of your surface water drains to a public sewer.
- Only part of your surface water goes to a soakaway with some surface water still draining to the public sewer.
- You have re-directed your roof drainage into water butts.
- You drain to a watercourse, brook or stream via a public sewer.
We've included a diagram to illustrate a property that is not entitled to a reduction.
How can I apply for a reduction?
- Please ensure you have carried out a full investigation in determining where your surface water drains to.
- If you believe that none of your surface drains to a public sewer, complete the application form answering all the questions.
- Finally, draw a diagram of your property showing the house, garden and hard standing areas indicating where you think your surface water drains to. This will help us if we need to visit your property to carry out a test to check whether you drain to the public sewer.
Your questions answered
Q. How much is the allowance?
If you have a water meter: for 2010-11 the wastewater fixed charge will be reduced from £64.00 to £31.00.
If you don't have a water meter: for 2010-11 the wastewater charge per £ of rateable value of your property will reduce from £1.250 to £0.959, e.g. if you have a rateable value of £164 you will save £47.72.
Q. If I am eligible, when will the lower charge apply from?
It will apply from the start of the charging year in which you make your application. The charging year runs from 1st April until the 31st March.
Q. Will the lower charge be backdated to cover previous years?
No, in accordance with our published Charges Scheme which is approved by Ofwat, the lower charge is given from the start of the charging year in which you apply.
Q. If I am eligible, do I need to apply every year?
No, your charges will be amended automatically each year. However, if you make any alterations to your property or existing drainage, please advise us. This may affect future charges.
Q. If my claim for surface water is allowed, will the highway drainage charge also be removed?
No, we cannot offer a reduction in this charge. Rain drains to our public sewer from roads and highways, which we then collect and treat before discharging back into rivers and seas. Since the community in general benefits from this service then all wastewater customers must pay a contribution.
Q. My neighbour has recently received an allowance - will I be entitled to one?
Each claim is assessed on an individual basis.