What is site area based charging for water and wastewater?

Site area based charging is a way for a retailer or water company to decide how much a business should pay for surface water drainage.

There are two main charges:

• Surface water charge – This covers the cost of removing and treating rainwater that drains from your property into public sewers.
• Highway drainage charge – This covers the cost of removing and treating rainwater that falls on roads and footpaths.

The larger your site, the more rainwater is likely to drain from it. Charging based on site area helps make sure costs are fair, as it reflects the amount of water each customer adds to the system.

If you’re unsure how your charges have been calculated, contact your water retailer for an explanation of how your water provider has worked out the costs.