There can be a difference between the amount of water you use and the amount of wastewater you return to the sewer system.

Our 'wastewater abatement allowance' takes these differences into account for our customers who have a water meter and can prove that over ten per cent of the water they use does not return to our sewers for treatment.

Our charges for wastewater services already recognise that up to ten per cent of the water you use may not be returned to our sewers, but customers who meet the criteria below can apply for an additional allowance.

Apply online

• Apply online for a wastewater abatement allowance

If your water usage is complicated, you may prefer to download and complete one of the more detailed claim forms below:

• Wastewater abatement claim form for commercial customers (0.08Mb)
• Wastewater abatement claim form for domestic customers (0.09Mb)

Qualifying for the wastewater abatement allowance

To qualify for the allowance you should:

• Have a metered water supply
• Be able to show that more than ten per cent of the water supplied to your property is not returned as wastewater to our public sewer
• Have at least 12 months of meter readings 
• Be a named customer on the account

You will also need to calculate the monetary value of any of the water that is not returned to our sewer, using the leaflet below:

• 2011/12 metered charges (0.08Mb)

Any calculation of the amount of water that is not returned to our sewers does not include water lost through leakage.

We review all wastewater abatement accounts on a regular basis.

See also

• Commercial allowances

  • Commercial allowances cover:

    • Manufacturing use
      Where water is part of the product, such as soft drinks
    • Process use
      For significant evaporation loss
    • Irrigation
      For regular watering of sports fields or garden centres
    • Discharge to a private outfall
      Where wastewater is not returned to a public sewer but to a watercourse, soakaway or similar

    More detailed information is covered in our commercial claim form:

    • Wastewater abatement claim form for commercial customers (0.08Mb)
• Domestic allowances

  • Domestic allowances cover:

    • Irrigation
      Where a large amount of water is used to water a large garden
    • Use of swimming pools / ponds
      When water is lost through evaporation
    • Discharge to a private outfall 
      Where water runs to a private outfall such as a watercourse, soakaway (or similar) but there is still a connection to our public sewer

    More detailed information is covered in our domestic claim form:

    • Wastewater abatement claim form for domestic customers (0.09Mb)