Surface water drainage charges
What is the surface water drainage charge?
Surface water drainage charges cover the cost of removing and treating surface water (rainwater) from your site or property. This includes water that drains from roofs, car parks and other hard standing areas. Removing this water protects your site or property from damage.
Included in the surface water drainage charge is a charge for highway drainage. All customers who receive a foul (used) water and/or surface water drainage service from any water and sewerage company contribute towards the cost of collection and treatment of water from public highways.
How is the charge calculated?
For business customers without a water meter the surface water drainage charge, including highway drainage, is included within the fixed sewerage charge element of your bill.
For business customers with a water meter the surface water drainage charge, including highway drainage, is a fixed charge based on the chargeable area of your site.
There are also a small number of business customers who do not have a water supply, but are charged based on the chargeable area of the site as they benefit from surface water drainage.
Calculating the chargeable area of your site
The chargeable area is calculated by measuring the total area of the site. If the entire site drains to Northumbrian Water’s sewerage system, then the total area of the site will equal the chargeable area.
An allowance will be made for any substantial areas of land that do not drain to the sewerage system, for example, a permeable, grassed or cultivated area such as a playing field, farmland or golf course. Each non-connected area must be more than 10% of the total area of the site – smaller, non-connected areas cannot be added together for this purpose.
The chargeable area will then attract one of 15 surface area charging bands – each covering a range of chargeable area.
We have calculated the chargeable area for the majority of sites or properties by using digital Ordnance Survey information. Our representatives have also ensured that site boundaries have been correctly identified.
If you do not agree with the chargeable area that we have calculated for your property please refer to our appeals process.
Not connected for surface water drainage?
For unmetered business customers, an allowance will be given if it can be shown that no surface water or groundwater drains either directly or indirectly to Northumbrian Water’s sewerage system. An allowance will not be given for partial connection.
For metered business customers, an allowance will be given if either part or all of the surface water or groundwater from your property does not drain either directly or indirectly to Northumbrian Water’s sewerage system. To apply for an allowance please download a copy of our 'application form' below.
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| Surface water drainage - application for an allowance form |  |
Alternatively, you can contact us and we will send you an application form to complete.
If your site is not connected for surface water drainage, you will still be charged for the highway drainage element, so long as you make some use of our sewerage system.
Shared metered supplies
Where a metered water supply serves more than one property, the owner will be responsible for foul sewerage charges, based on the quantity of water registered on the meter. Surface water drainage and highway drainage charges will be charged separately to occupiers, unless a common billing agreement exists between Northumbrian Water and the owner, whereby the owner accepts responsibility for payment of these charges.
Concessions to Surface Water Drainage Charges for Community Groups
The Government has passed legislation enabling water and sewerage companies to operate concessionary schemes for community groups.
Final guidance on the operation of concessionary schemes was published by Defra in December 2010. This guidance requires that we consult with customers and their representatives as to the need, design and cost of a concessionary scheme.
Defra recognised the little time available to consult with customers prior to the approval of charges commencing 1 April 2011 and encouraged companies to consider interim measures ahead of the 2012/13 charging year. As such Northumbrian Water has decided to introduce an interim concessionary charge for the charging year 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012.
Surface water drainage charges for community groups will be capped at Band 1 (£109.30) for eligible properties.
An eligible property must be primarily used as a:
- Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) registered with HM Revenue & Customs;
- village or community hall, or community association receiving discretionary relief from their local council for business rates;
- meeting place for Scout and Guide Association groups or similar youth organisations;
- place of public religious worship.
And:
- be run as a not-for-profit organisation;
- be non-governmental and non-political;
- be open to the whole community without discrimination;
- reinvest any and all profits in the organisation;
- not receive all its funding from local government;
- have a metered water supply;
- be connected for surface water drainage.
Where Northumbrian Water can identify that a customer is eligible we will write to these customers to provide further details. Other eligible customers can apply by downloading a copy of the 'application form' below.
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| Surface water drainage concession - application form | |
Northumbrian Water would remind customers that the interim concessionary charge is for the charging year 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012. The future of the interim concession will depend on the results of the consultation process due to take place in autumn 2011. We are currently considering how to consult with customers to understand their views on support for the concession. Download or view the 'frequently asked questions' document below.
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| Surface water drainage concession - FAQs | |