Application for an allowance against sewerage
charges for domestic customers
Section 1 - Your details
Please ensure that you complete all four sections of this questionnaire and return it to us at the address found on the reverse of this form. Further information can also be found on our website www.nwl.co.uk or if you need any assistance in completing this form please contact the property management team by ringing our customer contact centre on tel: 0845 733 5566 8am - 8pm Monday - Friday.
This application must be completed by the person responsible for the payment of sewerage charges. Your name
House number / name Street
Town Postcode
Age of property (approx) 0-10 years 10-20 years 20-50 years 50+ years Account reference number
(from your bill)
Daytime telephone number
Section 2 - Foul (used) water
This element of the sewerage charge relates to the reception and treatment of foul water that is ‘used’ at the property by domestic water facilities (toilet, sink, hand basin, bath, shower) and other domestic appliances (washing machine, dishwasher). 2.1 Where does the foul (used) water from the property drain to?
Northumbrian Water‘s sewerage system (Please go to Section 3) Septic tank, cesspool or private treatment plant
Other (please specify) . . . . Don’t know (Please go to Question 2.6)
2.2 If the property has a septic tank, cesspool or private treatment plant, which of the following statements best describes your circumstances:
The septic tank/cesspool/treatment plant only serves my property The septic tank/cesspool/treatment plant serves a number of properties*
* Please list the address of each property served by the septic tank/cesspool/treatment plant on the additional information section found on the reverse of this form.
2.3 Does the septic tank/treatment plant have an overflow that is connected to Northumbrian Water’s sewerage system?
Yes No Don’t know
2.4 Does a third party other than Northumbrian Water empty the septic tank/treatment plant?
Yes No
2.5 If Yes, please advise us who currently provides this emptying service . . . . Please wherever possible enclose with the completed questionnaire, a copy of the most recent receipt for the emptying service or a copy of a current maintenance agreement for the apparatus. This will enable us to provide a prompt response to your application.
Please send the completed form together with any additional information to the following address;
Northumbrian Water www.nwl.co.uk
PO Box 407 email us at: propertymanagement@nwl.co.uk
Abbey Road tel: 0845 733 5566 (8am - 8pm - Mon - Fri) Durham
DH1 9WW
Additional information
Ver 1.2 July 2006 For official use only
Property ref. no. . . Plus 2 no. . . Foul allowance granted Yes / No Effective date . . . If no, the reason not granted . . . Surface water allowance granted Yes / No Effective date . . . If no, the reason not granted . . . Authorised by . . . Date . . .
Stream
Manhole Northumbrian Water sewer
Road Pavement
House
Foul drain
Typical examples of properties eligible to claim for an allowance against sewerage charges
Surface Water Soakaway
NB - Views from above
Figure 1
Figure 2
Typical soakaway for surface water Typical surface water discharge to a watercourse Surface water allowance available Surface water allowance available
Foul (used) water allowance available X Foul (used) water allowance available X
House
Pavement Road
Northumbrian Water sewer Manhole
Foul Gutter / drainpipe Septic tank
2.6 If you do not know where the foul water discharges to, do you pay for or have an arrangement with a third party other than Northumbrian Water to remove the used water from your property?
Yes No
Section 4 - Drawing of the property
Please draw a plan of your property (as seen from above) in the space below showing both the foul and surface water drainage arrangements for the property. Examples of four typical arrangements for properties that are eligible to claim for an allowance against sewerage charges are enclosed overleaf for your assistance. Please feel free to provide any additional information in the relevant section located on the reverse of this form.
I the undersigned, believe that the enclosed information represents a true and accurate representation of my property and I agree to allow an authorised representative of Northumbrian Water onto my site at any reasonable time to verify the drainage arrangements.
Signed . . . Date . . .
Section 3 - Surface water drainage
Figure 3
Figure 4
Typical septic tank for the foul (used) water Typical septic tank for the foul (used water) with a soakaway for surface water
Surface water allowance available X Surface water allowance available Foul (used) water allowance available Foul (used) water allowance available
House
Drive gully
Pavement Road
Northumbrian Water sewer
Manhole Foul drain Gutter / drainpipe
House
Surface Water Soakaway
House
Drive gully
Pavement Road
Gutter / drainpipe Septic tank
Foul
This charge covers the removal and treatment of surface water (rainwater) from your property.
Does surface water from any part of the roof or hard standing areas drain to the public sewerage system?
Yes No
If No, where does the surface water discharge?
Watercourse (river/stream) Lake or pond Soakaway or lagoon
Other (please specify) . . .
Section 3 - Surface water drainage
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(ii) all sewerage charges will be charged separately to Occupiers on an unmeasured basis as described in section 5.2.
Installing separate supplies
(138) Owners may opt, at their cost, to have a separate metered supply installed to each property (if technically possible) which would enable all sewerage charges, including those for foul discharges, to be made direct to the occupiers.
5.4 REBATES IN RELATION TO SURFACE WATER DRAINAGE
5.4.1 General
Surface water rebates
(139) Where it can be demonstrated that a property does not drain any or, in some cases, that it drains only part of its surface water or groundwater either directly or indirectly to Northumbrian Water’s systems, a reduction in charges is available. Sites not charged for surface water or highway drainage
(140) In cases where, in addition to paragraph (139), no foul effluent is discharged to a public sewer, thereby rendering the property unconnected for sewerage services, no charges for either surface water or highway drainage will be payable.
5.4.2 Domestic Properties and Unmeasured Non-Domestic Properties
Surface water drainage rebates for
non-domestic properties
(141) For domestic properties, whether measured or unmeasured, and for unmeasured non-domestic properties, rebates will only be granted if it can be shown that no surface water or groundwater drains either directly or indirectly to Northumbrian Water’s sewerage system. Rebates will not be granted for partial connection, that is, where only some surface water or groundwater may drain other than to Northumbrian Water’s sewerage system. The level of rebate, which will be the same both for all domestic customers and for unmeasured non-domestic customers, is shown in Appendix A.
Retrospectivity of rebate
(142) Rebates as described in section 5.4.2 will be applied from the later of the 1st
April 2001, the date on which the customer became responsible for charges or the date on which the property was disconnected from Northumbrian Water’s systems.
5.4.3 Measured Non-Domestic Properties
Full rebates for surface water
charges
(143) Where a metered non-domestic customer can demonstrate to Northumbrian Water’s satisfaction that the provisions of either points (143)(a) or (143)(b), apply, by providing detailed site plans or such other evidence as Northumbrian Water may reasonably require, charges will be payable as detailed in paragraph (144).
(a) Drainage arrangements made in respect of a site are such that no
surface water or groundwater drains directly or indirectly to a public sewer from that property or from any common area appertaining to that property,
(b) All surface water or groundwater draining from the site is charged as
trade effluent,
Charges for fully rebated
(144) The chargeable area of the site will be defined as the total area of the site and this area will be allocated to a band. 30% of this band charge will be
properties applied to cover highway drainage charges.
Retrospectivity of full rebate
(145) Rebates as described in paragraphs (143) and (144) will be applied from the
later of the 1st April 2001, the date on which the customer became
responsible for charges or the date on which the site was disconnected from Northumbrian Water’s systems.
Partial rebates for surface water charges
(146) Where a metered non-domestic customer can demonstrate to Northumbrian Water’s satisfaction that the provisions of either points (146)(a) or (146)(b) apply, by providing detailed site plans or such other evidence as Northumbrian Water may reasonably require, charges will be payable as detailed in paragraph (147).
(a) Drainage arrangements made in respect of a site are such that surface
water or groundwater from only part of the site drains directly or
indirectly to a public sewer from that property or from any common area appertaining to that property,
(b) Some surface water or groundwater draining from the site is charged as
trade effluent,
Charges for partially reabted
properties
(147) Two chargeable areas will be defined and charged as follows:
(a) A chargeable area will be defined for the site as detailed in paragraph (130) for the proportion of the site from which surface water and groundwater drains directly or indirectly to a public sewer, or for which the surface water of groundwater is not charged as trade effluent. 70% of the tariff for the band of this chargeable area will be charged.
(b) Plus: a second chargeable area will be measured as the total area of
the site. 30% of the band charge for this chargeable area of the site will be applied to cover highway drainage charges.
Retrospectivity of partial rebate
(148) Rebates as described in paragraphs (146) and (147) will be applied
retrospectively as far back as the 1st April of the charging year in which the
claim for a rebate is made.
5.4.4 How to apply for a rebate
Application process for surface water
drainage rebates
(149) Customers in this category who consider that they may qualify for reduced sewerage charges as a result of these provisions should either write or telephone in the first instance to:
Customer Centre
Northumbrian Water Limited P O Box 407
Durham DH1 9WW
Telephone: 0845 733 5566
(150) Customers will be sent a questionnaire for completion. This will include the request for a simple site plan that indicates how the surface water and groundwater from their property is currently drained. This will help the customer to determine whether a claim under the provisions of this section is likely to be successful. If the customer remains of the opinion that he may be entitled to reduced sewerage charges, he should return the completed questionnaire to the above address. Northumbrian Water may require more detailed plans for some non-domestic properties and reserves the right to
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visit any property to establish its connection status.
5.5 OTHER SEWERAGE CHARGES
Unmanned structure
charges
(151) In the case of non-domestic properties that occupy a total surface area of
less than 25m2, that are normally unmanned and benefit only from surface
water drainage, a fixed charge shall be payable in all cases, regardless of whether or not they appear on the Valuation List at 31 March 1990 (and if so, regardless of their value on that List). The level of the fixed charge for such properties for 2009/2010 appears in Appendix A.
