Hosepipe ban

[JonnyFive]

How can we be fined by a company? Surely it's not up to them who they fine.. Yes, fine for non payment etc.. But fine for using something you pay for? fk off.

[Jimbo.]

markbigears said:

Doesn't all the water we use on our gardens go back in to the water table anyway? looks like i'll be getting another threatening letter from thames water again this year.

A tiny %age, maybe, but the vast majority evaporates straight off or ends up being lost in/through plants. In the short-term it's "lost" from the useable bit of the system...

[dandarez]

Time for all of you to do what I did years ago (if you too haven't done it already).

Many (very many!) households pay (unknowingly) for Surface Water drainage.

The water boards take your money regardless for a service that they may not even be providing - the onus is on YOU to have to appeal against it even when they are wrongfully, but legally (typical), taking your money!

How to find out. Simples.
Turn your latest bill over and see if you are being charged.
If you are (highly likely you will be!) you can request a reduction in your water charges from your waste water provider if the surface water at your home is draining into a soakaway and doesn't go into the main drainage system. MANY DO!

Surface water is the term used to cover rainfall, snow (melting) etc and where it finally ends up on your property.
A rainwater soakaway is simply the underground round your property with gravel or stones that collects water that runs off the roof and allows the water to gradually disperse into the soil - rather than into a public sewer.
So, if it doesn't go into a public sewer but goes straight into the ground, demand they cancel their charge!

I did this several years ago. As we had been subject to this charge for years previous I asked they back date it.
Would they hell!

Check now to see if you're being charged, especially as they have just had the cheek to say bills will increase in April!

[vonuber]

dandarez said:

So, if it doesn't go into a public sewer but goes straight into the ground, demand they cancel their charge!

A very large percentage (particularly in cities, unless it is a new build) will most likely discharge into the surface water network; however it is worth checking.

[dandarez]

vonuber said:

dandarez said:

So, if it doesn't go into a public sewer but goes straight into the ground, demand they cancel their charge!

A very large percentage (particularly in cities, unless it is a new build) will most likely discharge into the surface water network; however it is worth checking.

I should say it is. Charging for a service they may not even provide!

They told me because there was a large manhole cover on my drive mine went to the sewer... they don't even know what they are talking about. Our house is 1980s.

So, there you have it. You carry on giving them their Dire Straits cash...'money for nothing'. Up to you.

Oh, and by the way, Water Board bosses, who have just splashed out god knows how much money on full page ads in the newspapers (even in the provincial small papers) to tell us there is a 'Drought', I've just driven back home in absolutely pouring rain. Hope you catch some of it!

[Steameh]

There seems to be a lot of hostility toward water companies in this thread.

[vonuber]

Steameh said:

There seems to be a lot of hostility toward water companies in this thread.

That's because people don't actually understand what it involves, not concepts such as the water cycle etc. But hey ho.

[PRTVR]

vonuber said:

Steameh said:

There seems to be a lot of hostility toward water companies in this thread.

That's because people don't actually understand what it involves, not concepts such as the water cycle etc. But hey ho.

Or it could be that it appears that the water companies appear to have failed to increase storage capacity,when the population has increased, the two regions that did before privatization do not have a problem. Southwest water and northumberland water,the problem is all of the water companies own making.