Overbilled for Water?

Ratboy

My parents live on an unadopted road, which is a road that is not tarmacadamed, basically gravel.

Any road repairs, or puddles are fixed by the residents, as an unadopted road doesn't come under control of the council.

United Utilities charge for water run off/drainage, which isn't a feature in this street, but they charge you for that?

My parents obviously have drains, but no run off for gutter water? And the company charge for gutter water; when no gutter water is collected, due to no drains?

HappyMJ

Where does the surface water drain to? If you have a soakaway and meet a few other conditions you can claim a rebate on your surface water drainage charges.

Cardew

Unfortunately the Water Privatisation Act decreed the 'default' position for all water companies would be that Surface Water Drainage(SWD) be charged, and that customers neen to claim relief from that charge.

If the 'gutter water' or any other water from your parents land does not enter the sewerage system, then they can claim relief.

It is pertinent to point out that it is of no consequence to the water companies if SWD charges are levied or not i.e. it doesn't affect their profit.

This is because Ofwat decides the revenue that companies can raise and their profit margin. Thus if loads of customers claim relief from SWD and the company's income is reduced by, say, £1million, they will raise other charges slightly to compensate.