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Water bill validation is absolute key to controlling water costs.

Author:  Graham Mann, Water Audit Expert.

A further refund cheque for Lookers Plc for £4,938 is yet another reminder of the importance 0f water bill validation, in this case it was a simple duplication of charges. The site located in the North West billed for water services via United Utilities was charged for surface water and highways drainage based on site area Band 8 and also a site area Band 5. This charge is applied separately to your water bill and is based on the site area of your property, in this case Band 8 is 12,000 – 17,999m2 at an annual charge of £ 18,749. The water company charged on an additional Band 5 for site area of 1,500 – 2,999m2 at a charge of £ 2,811 per annum.

As a part of the water bill validation process and before authorising  the bill for payment the site area was checked and water auditors report an incorrect charge and made a claim for a water rebate and cancellation of future charges on Band 5 resulting in this case in an annual saving of £ 2,811 per year and a cheque for £ 4,938.

There is a general acceptance by many businesses that water bills are correct and if the charges are broadly in line with the previous water bills they are paid, however estimates that are accepted indicate 7 out of 10 bills are incorrect, as in overcharged. However it is now becoming clear that many water companies are undercharging which is again not good news for the customer. It is therefore the job of any water auditor validating water bills to ensure charges are levied correctly and report undercharging.