Foul sewerage
If you use less than 50 Ml of water a year (250 Ml in Wales) you would usually pay the standard non-household charges for foul sewerage. These are subject to price limits that we set.
Metered customers
Almost all non-household customers have a water meter, and this is used to estimate the amount of foul sewage generated. If you have a water meter your foul sewerage charges are worked out using:
- a volumetric rate which is multiplied by
- the volume of water used, adjusted for the water that does not return to the sewers
Most companies also charge a standing charge. The level of this charge depends on the size of your water meter.
The volumetric rate for metered non-households is usually the same as the volumetric rate for metered households.
Anglian Water, Southern Water, Thames Water and Wessex Water's charges for non-household sewerage standing charges are higher than average. This is because these companies include the costs of both surface water and highway drainage in the sewerage standing charge. Dŵr Cymru's standing charges for non-household sewerage are also higher than average, because it includes a highway drainage charge.
Unmetered customers
Unmetered non-household customers are charged for foul sewerage in the same way that unmetered household customers are charged. If you do not have a meter you will usually pay:
- a fixed charge, which includes the customer-related costs of supply
- a charge related to the rateable value of the property
Unmetered customers’ charges are based on the rateable value of the property under the 1973 Valuation Act. The Valuation Office Agency gives all non-households in England and Wales a rateable value. The rateable value is a professional assessment of the annual rental value of a property on a specific date. The values are updated every five years.
The charges are outlined in the household customer information section.
