If you want your supply to remain connected and you are not on a water meter, there are only exceptional circumstances where you may claim a reduction in your water bill. If you are a metered customer then you will only pay for the water used, unless you have your supply disconnected.
Landlords can only request to have their supply disconnected, they cannot claim for a reduction in charges.
Commercial customers can only request to have their supply disconnected, they cannot claim for a reduction in charges.
Unnoccupied properties undergoing renovation cannot claim reduced charges as it is believed that a water supply would be required.
If you have problems paying your bill, there are things that we can do to help. We will always avoid taking legal action to recover the amount you owe us and you can agree a payment arrangement with us at any time. However as a last resort we may have to take steps to recover debts. Read more about payment options and the help available to you.
Chargeable volume of water - Relates to the usage of water registered through the meter.
Current charge = £0.8752 per cubic meter
Water standing charge - Relates to the size of the meter and covers the cost of reading, billing, maintaining and in due course replacing the meter.
Current charge = £27.00 per annum
Sewerage
Chargeable volume of sewerage- Relates to the usage of water registered through the meter (It is assumed that the volume of ‘water in’ equals the volume of ‘water out’).
Current Thames Water volumetric charge = £0.5193 per cubic meter
Current Anglian Water volumetric charge = £1.3194 pence per cubic metre (Customers only pay sewerage based on 90% of the water going through the meter)
Sewerage standing charge relates to the costs incurred by Thames Water or Anglian Water not attributable to the consumption registered through the meter.
Current Thames Water charge = £45 per annum
Current Anglian Water charge = £72 per annum
Please note that sewerage and surface water drainage charges are collected by Three Valleys Water on behalf of Thames Water and Anglian Water.
You will be charged in one of two ways, Rateable Value or assessed charges. The following is a simple summary of charges relating to the average domestic customer.
For more detailed information please read our full Charges Scheme 2008-09
Rateable Value - Water
The Rateable Value is an assessment of the annual rental value of a property made by the Local Authority (last updated in 1973).
Annual water standing charge = £35.60 per annum
Annual water charge per £ of Rateable Value:
Former Colne Valley Area = £0.4515
Former Lee Valley Area = £0.5546
Former Rickmansworth Area = £0.4401
Former North Surrey Area = 0.4636
Rateable Value - Sewerage
Thames region non-metered sewerage charges
Charge per £ of Rateable Value:
North London - (Not inner area) Brent = £0.3034
Eastern Area – Barnet, Brentwood, Broxbourne, East Hertfordshire, Enfield, Epping Forest, Haringey, Harlow, Luton, North Hertfordshire, Stevenage, Uttlesford, Welwyn Hatfield = £0.3246
Northern Area – Bracknell, Dacorum, Ealing, Elmbridge, Guildford, Harrow, Hertsmere, Hillingdon, Runnymede, St Albans, Slough, South Bedfordshire, South Buckinghamshire, Surrey Heath, Three Rivers, Watford, Woking, Wycombe = £0.3364
Southern Area – Hounslow, Spelthorne, Windsor and Maidenhead = £0.3977
Western Area – Aylesbury Vale = £0.4625
Annual standing charge for domestic properties with surface water drainage = £34.00
Anglian region non-metered sewerage charges
Charge per £ of rateable value = £0.4526
Annual standing charge for properties with a Rateable Value:
Less than £1,001 = £159.09
£1,001 to £5,000 = £318.18
£5,001 to £50,000 = £795.45
Above £50,000 = £3,181.80
Standing charge for properties with Zero/ no Rateable Value = £216.00
Surface water only drainage charge = £58.50
Assessed charges - Water
Domestic assessed water charges (based on number of occupiers)
Average household charge (3 or more people) = £155.60
1 person (66 cubic metres per annum) = £84.80
2 people (115 cubic metres per annum) = £127.60
Assessed charges - Sewerage
Thames Water Sewerage charges (based on number of bedrooms)
Studio/1 bedroom = £79.00 per annum
2 bedrooms = £85.00 per annum
3 bedrooms = £101.00 per annum
Anglian Water Sewerage charges
Details of Anglian’s scheme can be obtained from Anglian Water on request.
Our target is to respond to 100% of all complaints within 10 working days of receipt. In many instances we are pleased to say that the response will be quicker. However if there is an occasion when we fail to respond within this time, you will automatically be entitled to a payment of £20. Please read our complaints leaflet.
Your water meter is positioned where the water enters your premises. If a leak occurs before the water passes through your water meter, then your meter will not register an increase. However, if a leak occurs after the water meter, this will register an increase and you will be charged for this water.
Apart from the obvious presence of water where it shouldn't be, there are a number of pointers that you can look out for which might indicate that there is a leak on the water supply pipes to your premises. Click here for more information about leaks.
If you do find there is a leak then please contact us if it is outside your building or a plumber if it is inside. We are always happy to provide advice in locating a leak. We will always repair leaks on our pipes at our expense. However, for leaks on pipes that are your responsibility, we may make a charge to cover our costs or you may prefer to employ your own plumber to make the repair. Click here to see a diagram of who is responsible for the pipes supplying water to your building.
Legislation has recognised the need for water companies to have the power to install meters at properties. Although the Water Industry Act 1991 contains some restrictions on these rights, they do not apply when a home changes occupier.
Every property built after 1990 will already have a water meter in place. However, with so many predating that period, a pro-active programme for older properties is required in order to make a significant difference. This is why a water meter will be installed at your property.
You should have an internal stop tap in your home that will turn off the water supply if needed. If you don’t have an internal stop tap or it is broken and you need to have the supply turned off at the Mains Stop Tap, charges may apply. Read more on stop tap policy.
In the case of a public highway, Three Valleys Water has up to 6 months to fully reinstate the road surface. In the case of a private property, Three Valleys Water has up to 3 months to fully reinstate the ground. In either case a temporary reinstatement (to backfill and make safe the surface) will be carried out within three working days.
Yes you are. If you are on a meter we recommend that you take regular meter readings to check for leakage. Please click here for a leaflet that can help you to track down excessive water usage.
Customers play a vital and valued part in spotting leaks. If you spot a leak you can, please fill in our leakage form. Alternatively you can call the Leakspotter’s Hotline on 0800 376 5325 or email leakspotter@3valleys.co.uk.
Whether a leak is repaired and the time taken for this to happen is dependent on a number of factors. These can include the severity of the leak, how dangerous it is and where the leak is located, i.e. is it on our pipework or on the customer’s pipework?
Three Valleys Water’s responsibility for fixing leaks stops at the boundary stop tap in the street. We are not responsible for the maintenance of the supply pipe that feeds your property from the point of the boundary stop tap to your water taps.
If your water supply pipe is causing you problems, you may wish to view our supply pipe repair scheme. This will give you more information on who is responsible for what and the different courses of action you can take.
Three Valleys Water is a water only Company. We collect sewerage charges on behalf of Thames Water and Anglian Water, depending on where you live. If you have a problem with your drains or sewers you will need to contact either Thames Water on 0845 920 0800 or Anglian Water on 0845 791 9145.
We aim to make sure that your water pressure is no less than our target of 1 bar, at the boundary of your property. We use checking devices throughout our mains network to monitor this.
For help on how to assess the possible causes of water-pressure problems in your home Please read our water pressure booklet.
