New charges for surface drainage

Water butt users said their efforts would not be recognised

Plans by South West Water (SWW) to alter the way it charges for some of its services have been criticised for penalising those who try to save water.

From April, customers are to pay fixed charges for surface water drainage, such as water off roofs into sewers.

Critics claims the changes do not take into account users of water butts or similar recycling of rainwater which stops it going straight into sewers.

SWW said the changes had been supported by industry watchdogs.

Clean Sweep

Until now, charges for surface water drainage have been based on whether customers had a water meter or on the rateable value of a property for those without meters.

But the fixed charge, which is due to begin to be implemented from the next financial year, will be �15 a year.

SWW's 1.6m customers have the largest water bills in the country.

The company pays for its �1.5bn clean sweep programme, to improve water quality around the region's coastline, out of revenue raised from bills. It has been ongoing since 1989.

Customer Derek Athey, who is retired and from Dunkeswell in east Devon, said the new drainage changes could lead to an increase in his bill of between 2.5% and 9.8%.

This is despite the fact he uses run-off from a water butt to wash his car and water his garden.

Meter-use increase

He said: "I'm just particularly annoyed that it's yet another levy, despite having paid for the past 20 years for the clean sweep campaign.

"Now that's over, we're not getting the benefit of any reduction in charges. It's just going up."

SWW said the charges would be staggered over a number of years.

It said: "Now that most of our customers are on a water meter, we have decided, with the support of Ofwat and the Consumer Council for Water, to transfer the way we charge for surface water to a standing charge.

"This change is a reallocation and does not result in any extra revenue for South West Water."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version