In the UK most businesses take their water supplies from local water companies, who also deal with the final treatment of their wastewater and trade effluent. The water companies charge for both supplying the water and treating the wastewater. The tariffs and calculations used in creating business water bills can be very complex, with significant opportunity for error. This article looks at what happens when businesses are overcharged on their water bills and how they can reclaim these unfair charges.

Overcharged on your business water bills?

Many businesses incorporate industrial processes that use significant quantities of water, generating corresponding volumes of contaminated wastewater or effluent which requires either treatment, disposal… or both.

The tariffs and charging structures used by UK water companies for the supply of water and disposal of wastewater can be complex, and tariff and calculation errors in water bills are not uncommon.

This can result in significant overcharging that can go back many years.

Water and wastewater tariff audits and cost recovery solutions

Water Treatment Services offer a comprehensive water-wastewater tariff audit and cost recovery solution that can often unearth significant discrepancies in business water bills – both current and historic.

Our teams of specialist technicians, scientists and water tariff experts will review your water bills, tariff calculations and charging structures to identify opportunities for cost recovery.

Our water bill cost recovery solutions operate on a no win, no fee basis… so no risk to you.

In the unlikely event that our experts find things as they should be with your water bills, you will have received a free health-check and you have a professional contact for future developments.

Are there time limits for reclaiming overcharging?

There is no clear-cut guidance on maximum time limits for reclaiming overcharges on business water bills.

However, the UK’s Financial Services Ombudsman has previously indicated that there is no time limit on how far back claims can be made.

Our approach is to seek to reclaim overcharging on water and wastewater bills where there is clear evidence to support such claims, irrespective of the passage of time.

Find out if your business can reclaim

We’re confident we can discover cost savings for your business, and if we don’t … there’s no charge to you.

Commercial water and wastewater overcharging investigations

Areas for investigation can include:

Site Surveys
Site surveys to confirm water company service usage.
Drainage Investigations
Drainage assessment to detect leakage and water company asset use.
Review of Historic Data
Recovery of historic overcharging on all water company service provisions: water supplied, used water taken away, surface water drained and trade effluent disposed of.
Alternative Tariffs
Offer options to address different tariffs for clients.
Water Use & Reuse
Advise on methods to minimise wastewater generation.
Technology Review
Provide a technical review on wastewater re-use and recommendations on the technologies required to achieve substantial further savings.
Plant Optimisation
Offer wastewater treatment plant optimisation advice.

World-class water and wastewater treatment solutions for business

Water Treatment Services offer a comprehensive range of trade effluent and industrial wastewater treatment solutions.

Find out how we can help reduce your costs, achieve regulatory compliance and improve environmental performance.

Our industrial wastewater experts can provide advice and full support to help you identify the most appropriate strategies for managing your wastewater and effluent streams.

With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of specially trained engineers, wastewater specialists and technicians we offer cost effective environmental support solutions across the whole of the UK and Ireland.

Contact us today for an informal discussion if you believe your business has been overcharged on your water bills. We’re confident we can discover cost savings for your business, and if we don’t …. there’s no charge to you.