First Bill from Severn Trent

Magic_Dragon

My boyfriend and I moved into our new home on 29th May 06 (New Build). I have just recieved our first water bill. I have never had to pay water bills before and I am not sure if the bill is too much. Here is what it says:

Water Supply - Minimum charge - £37.91
Water Standing Charge - £11.39
Used Water - (34.00 units) £24.54
Used Water Standing Charge - £6.03
Measured Drainage - Band 01 - £9.60

Billing Period - 29th May - 25 Oct
Total - £89.47

There is just the 2 of us and we use shower or bath every day and run washing machine and dishwasher every other day.

I dont know what all these charges are for can anyone help? It needs to be paid by the 4rth and no CS at the weekends!!

immoral_angeluk

We're with severn trent and we pay a rateable value instead of going by how many units you use so it looks like you have a water meter. Other charges are standard charges they apply to your account... £89.47 is pennies for 5 months worth of water! We pay £24.15 a month for ours!

Cardew

All new houses have a water meter.

34 units mean, you have used 34 cubic meters of water in 5 months; which is below average for 2 people.

The charge for a cubic metre of water in the Severn Trent is 108.77p so the charge for 34 cu mtrs should be £36.98. Presumably there is a minimum charge - although I have never heard of one.

The sewerage charge(used water) is 73.23p/cu mtr so that charge should be £24.90 - so why £24.54?

The annual water standing charge for a 22mm water meter £28.32 so £11.39 is about right.

For 22mm sewerage(used water) it is £15 so again £6.03 is correct.

You are being charged £9.60 for surface water drainage for a flat/terrace house(band 1=£23.88pa)) this is the correct amount for the time you have been there. However as you are in a new build your surface water almost certainly goes into soakaway and you should not be liable for this charge.

So apart from the surface water charge your bill is roughly correct.

I would write to Severn Trent and challenge the surface water charge and also query the minimum charge.

Magic_Dragon

Thanks for the replying

Out of that 5 month we have prob spent about 6 weeks away so charges seem Ok. Thanks for explaining things, I will give Severn Trent a call.

I did not realise water cost as much as this! I pay about the same for my Gas!!

newcook

Cardew wrote:

All new houses have a water meter.

34 units mean, you have used 34 cubic meters of water in 5 months; which is below average for 2 people.

The charge for a cubic metre of water in the Severn Trent is 108.77p so the charge for 34 cu mtrs should be £36.98. Presumably there is a minimum charge - although I have never heard of one.

The sewerage charge(used water) is 73.23p/cu mtr so that charge should be £24.90 - so why £24.54?

The annual water standing charge for a 22mm water meter £28.32 so £11.39 is about right.

For 22mm sewerage(used water) it is £15 so again £6.03 is correct.

You are being charged £9.60 for surface water drainage for a flat/terrace house(band 1=£23.88pa)) this is the correct amount for the time you have been there. However as you are in a new build your surface water almost certainly goes into soakaway and you should not be liable for this charge.

So apart from the surface water charge your bill is roughly correct.

I would write to Severn Trent and challenge the surface water charge and also query the minimum charge.

I hate to sound dense but what is a soakaway??? I moved into a new build in August but severn trent have still not sorted out a bill for us and the water reading is 0015.78 so am i right in thinking that our bill when we get it will be less than £20 for the water and about £11 for the sewerage???

Cardew

newcook wrote:

I hate to sound dense but what is a soakaway??? I moved into a new build in August but severn trent have still not sorted out a bill for us and the water reading is 0015.78 so am i right in thinking that our bill when we get it will be less than £20 for the water and about £11 for the sewerage???

Yes - all ST water and sewerage charges are the same as stated in my earlier post.
You will also pay pro-rata the annual standing charge for both water and sewerage.

ST, by default, will charge you for surface water drainage - £23.88/47.88/71.76 depending on flat or Tce/semi/det. This annual charge is on the assumption that the water from your garden and gutters flows into the sewer, or out onto the road and obviously eventually to a sewer.

The vast majority of newish houses do not have their surface water flowing into a sewer as it is not allowed these days unless there are special circumstances. Instead the water from gutters goes into a soakaway. This is a large pit dug in or near your garden and normally filled with rubble. You won't see it or even know where it is as it will normally be under a garden - but it will be there.

You need to write to ST or try calling them and claim relief from that charge. They sometimes ask for proof - simply to try to deter you(the builder should certify) or they will just take your word for it.

Don't give up on it. as it will be a charge for as long as you are in the house if you pay it.

oldwiring

Cardew wrote:

The sewerage charge(used water) is 73.23p/cu mtr so that charge should be £24.90 - so why £24.54?

A 5% allowance is given for water not returned to the drainage system by most if not all cos. That would account for the discrepancy