Domestic water: your uSwitch guide

Use this guide to find essential information about domestic water and water bills.

For more information about some of the terms we use, click on the highlighted words or see our water glossary.

To find out how you could save money by switching to a water meter, use the uSwitch comparison tool.

In England and Wales there are regional differences in domestic water rates. Your domestic water rate will depend on the availability of water in your region and the size of your region.

The majority of people are charged a yearly water rate which covers the domestic water supply and associated costs such as maintaining water quality. Some people have a water meter instead, which is a cheaper alternative in some cases.

Water suppliers are the companies that provide domestic water to homes in the UK. Each supplier is responsible for every customer in its geographical region and must supply each household with a continuous supply of safe water at an adequate pressure.

There are currently 25 domestic water suppliers in England and Wales. 10 of these provide both domestic water and sewerage services, while 15 supply just water. In Northern Ireland, domestic water is provided by the Government.

In England and Wales, there is no direct competition between domestic water or sewerage companies and it is not possible to change your domestic water supplier.

If you don't know which company supplies your domestic water, find out by entering your postcode into the uSwitch water meter switching service.

The Office of Water Services (Ofwat) regulates the water industry in England and Wales. It makes sure that water and sewerage companies provide a good quality, efficient domestic water service at a fair price.

Ofwat also regulates domestic water charges and reviews price rises every five years.

Water companies calculate your domestic water bills in one of two ways:

Unmeasured - you pay a set amount for your domestic water and sewerage service, regardless of how much you use. This is based on the rateable value (RV) of your home (in England and Wales) or your council tax band (in Scotland).

Measured - your domestic water readings are taken from a meter and you pay for the units of water you use.

There are two parts to your water bill:
1. Water charges are for the fresh water that comes out of your taps.
2. Sewerage charges are for the water you use that goes back into the system as waste to be treated - assumed to be about 95%. This is also known as foul or grey water.

The sewerage charge includes any water that runs from your property into public sewers.

A domestic water meter records the amount of water your household uses. Your domestic water supplier checks your water meter to calculate your water bill. This is similar to how you are billed if you have a gas or electricity meter.

It is usually optional to have a domestic water meter fitted although some people in the UK must have one. This includes all UK businesses, people who own swimming pools, use sprinklers or live in a water scarce area.

If you switch to a domestic water meter, you could save up to £125 pounds a year on your water bill. Enter a few details into our online water bill comparison service and see how much you could save.

Any savings will depend on where you live, your home's value, how much you currently pay for your domestic water and how much water you use.

Generally, if you don't use much water or you live in a big house with few people, you could benefit from a water meter. This is because domestic water charges are calculated using the value of your property rather than the amount of water you use.

Ofwat says the average unmetered customer may save 5-10% with a water meter.

Most homeowners - and people who have been renting for over 6 months - can get a domestic water meter installed free.

If it's really expensive or impractical to install one - for example, if you live in a flat with shared water pipes or your stop tap needs to be replaced - you may have to pay for the installation yourself. The domestic water meter itself should be free.

To switch to a domestic water meter, sign up online via uSwitch We'll forward your request on to your domestic water supplier who will contact you to arrange installation.

Your domestic water meter will usually be installed under your kitchen sink or where the water enters your home. A cable will link to a touchpad on the outside of your house. Your water company will use this to read your meter without having to come inside your house.

If it is impossible to have a domestic water meter installed, then your water company should offer you an assessed charge. This means they will calculate your bill based on the type of property you live in or what similar homes with domestic water meters in your area pay.

Alternatively, you can choose to carry on paying an unmeasured bill.

If you have a water meter your domestic water bills will be based on the amount of water you use, rather than being a fixed amount each year based on the rateable value (RV) of your home. Most domestic water suppliers send bills every six months - unmetered clients usually receive a bill annually.

If you do not like your domestic water meter, or you find that your domestic water bills are higher than before, you can ask your domestic water company to switch you back. You must make your request within 12 months after your water meter is installed, or 30 days after your second bill (whichever is later).

If you've recently moved into a property that has a domestic water meter, you will not be able to change to unmetered billing.

If you have a cesspit or sewage tank you should not have to pay any sewerage charges. Contact your domestic water supplier to find out if you're entitled to money off your total domestic water bill.

It is not currently possible to use the uSwitch comparison tool to see how much you could save with a domestic water meter if you have a cesspit.

Almost everybody pays for surface water drainage as part of the sewerage element of their domestic water bill.

If you can prove that no water from your property drains into a public sewer - if you have a soakaway for example - you may be able to apply for a refund of your most recent charges. For further information, please contact your domestic water supplier.

Rateable value (RV)
The rateable value (RV) of your home is a figure that was set in 1990 to work out council tax bands and was roughly based on rental value. It is still used in England and Wales to calculate water rates.

Soakaway
A rainwater soakaway is an underground pit filled with gravel that stores water that runs off the roof and gradually disperses it into the soil - rather than into a public sewer.

Surface water drainage
Water, including rainwater, that drains from the property into a public sewer. The charge for this is included in the sewerage element of your water bill.

Water meter
A domestic water meter is a device that measures how much water your household uses.

Water scarce area
If there is concern over water resource in a designated water supply area, the water company can apply for "water scarcity" status. If the government grants the status, all homes in this area must have water meters fitted. Currently Folkestone and Dover Water are the only UK water company with water scarcity status (January 2009).