Surface water rebate

Surface water is rainwater that runs off hard surfaces such as:

• roofs
• driveways
• paths and other paved areas
• Water that runs into roadside drains, for example after using a hose or washing your car.

This water usually ends up in a public sewer.

As part of our wastewater charges (that’s all the water that ends up in your drains and is made up of used tap and loo water, and run-off rainwater), we include a standing charge for disposing of surface water.

You only need to pay this charge if your property is connected to a public sewer. That applies to most homes – especially those built in the last 40 years.

The small annual fee (£25.90 for homeowners) covers the cost of taking away and treating this water.

Homes that aren’t connected to a public sewer have something called a soakaway instead. It’s a large underground pit filled with gravel within the boundary of your property (about 10-15 feet away from the foundations of the house). Run-off rainwater is piped into it.

If surface water runs into your soakaway rather than a public drain, then you can claim a rebate from us – dating back to April 1, 2015.

Rainwater that drains from highways ends up in public sewers, which we have to then process. As we all benefit from our road network – and as long as your property is connected to a public sewer – then we’ll also add a charge to your bill for highway drainage.

You can find out more about highway drainage charges on the Ofwat website.