General Chat

That sounds complicated DET. A simple meter is much fairer.

Regarding pumps - I collect all my own water, but luckily I live on a sloping property and my main water storage is on top of the hill.
About a year ago I did away with my pump and now just run everything off gravity. Not huge pressure, but perfectly adequate and it saves water.

I have a pump that I just use to pump water up the hill when needed.

xxxxxxx mick

DET - there are definitely different considerations - like how much can be 'ripped off'!
My daughter once lived in a 2 bedroom flat in a small country town in Hampshire that comes under Winchester - her water charges were more than mine (3 bedroom house actually in Winchester)

Found this on Southerwater website

.>>>If your property was built before April 1989, and you do not have a meter, **your charges are based on the rateable value existing on March 31st 1990.**

For a new or newly converted domestic property which is not metered and does not have a rateable value, there is an annual wastewater licence charge of £278.96.<<<<

So if they all have the same policy, the bit about rateable value may explain the differences between maggiewinchester and her daughter’s rates.

Rip off Britain? Indeed!!!

The ratable value used to be based on what the likely rent for the property would be. This took into account the size and number of rooms, number of radiators, any extension, size of sheds, greenhouse, garage and whether it was brick, outside tap etc. Additionally it took into account the convenience of local amenities, libraries, shops, schools, bus routes.

When we did alterations to a previous house it was found that the previous occupant had been overcharged rates on a brick garage that was in fact timber. He had been overcharged for 30 years.