We are proud to provide a sustainable, affordable, clean and safe water supply and to manage and treat the waste water returned to us in a way that protects the environment.
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.
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.
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.
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. 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.
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.