Live Updates arrow
Account Login
search-icon
Close

Surface water rebate

Use the form below if you'd like to apply for a surface water rebate.

background

How does the rebate work?

Usually, your wastewater charges will include a specific charge for surface water drainage. This is because the surface water (rainwater running off your roof and driveway) drains into the public sewer, which we need to take away and treat.

However, if the surface water from your home doesn't flow into the public sewer but into a soakaway, you may qualify for a rebate. In other words, you won't be charged for surface water drainage.

You can complete our online form below to claim your rebate. You’ll only have to claim the rebate once. After that, we’ll automatically give you the rebate every year.

You can read more about rebates on Ofwat's website.

Step 1: Property details

Tell us about your property.

Step 2: Contact details

Enter your contact details.

Step 3: Your address

Enter your address and correspondence address.

Step 1: Property details

Tell us about your property.

Step 2: Contact details

Enter your contact details.

Step 3: Your address

Enter your address and correspondence address.

Property details
Contact details

(if available) This is found at the top right hand side of your bill.

Your address
Step 1: Property details

Tell us about your property.

Step 2: Contact details

Enter your contact details.

Step 3: Your address

Enter your address and correspondence address.

Frequently asked questions

Here you'll find answers to some commonly asked questions about surface water drainage and rebates.

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.

Did you find the information you are looking for?

Thank you for your feedback. We’re glad you found this information useful!
We're sorry to hear that. Please tell us a bit more by ticking any of the boxes below that apply.
Page feedback form