Rules

All commercial premises, unless a personal hardship waiver applies, must pay their water charges without exception. If you do not pay your water charges, the local authority has the option of bringing you to the District Court to recover the charges from you. Alternatively, it can disconnect your water supply. This path is rarely followed because of the health and safety implications of a lack of water supply, particularly if it affects children or older people.

Group schemes are responsible for monitoring themselves. Members of group schemes who do not pay their share of the maintenance costs must be dealt with by the group and its trustees. The local authority cannot get involved in this situation as it has no authority over the scheme. It is up to the members and trustees of group schemes to decide who should pay what and the grounds on which charges can be waived or reduced.