Sport and recreation clubs should be charged concessionary rates for water drainage.

New guidance from OFWAT (the water regulator) recommends that water companies use ‘site area charging’ for drainage.

This means people and premises are charged based on the size of their plot.

This model fails to distinguish between community facilities and commercial buildings which mean that community clubs will pay the same rates as profit-making companies with higher water use.

Water companies should implement new DEFRA guidance which allows concessionary rates for community clubs.

Background

• OFWAT guidance recommended moving to ‘site area charging’ for drainage
• clubs faced an increase in bills of up to 2,000%
• community organisations lobbied for the introduction of concessionary schemes.

Current status

• DEFRA guidance (2010) allows water companies to implement a concessionary scheme
• the schemes are voluntary and existing customers must first be consulted
• only a few water companies have implemented the scheme.

Action Points

• clubs should contact their water company to find out if they are eligible for concessionary rates
• NGBs should respond to consultations by water companies to ensure a concessionary rate is available to CASCs and other community clubs
• parliamentarians should check the water company offers a concessionary rate for community clubs.

Download Briefing (PDF)