Water leaks: Who’s responsible for the bill?
Castle Water
The UK's largest independent business water supplier & the only water retailer that will give you an instant online.
The cost of water leaks
Water leaks can be extremely costly. Not only do they result in expensive repairs, but you’ll also end up paying for wasted water. Even a modest leak of one litre per second could set your business back by roughly ￡55,000 a year. It’s crucial to understand where responsibility lies to avoid unexpected expenses.
Preventing water leaks
Preventing the problem is always preferable to dealing with its aftermath. Modern leak detection systems range from simple, cost-effective sensors that sound an alarm at the first sign of water to advanced smart devices that connect to your network and send real-time alerts. These systems enable a swift response, minimising damage and helping you keep repair costs down. In addition, many insurance companies reward proactive leak management with lower annual premiums, recognising that such measures reduce risk.
Responsibility for your water
Water wholesalers are responsible for getting potable water to your premises. They manage the water while it remains in the mains and during its journey from the treatment works. Should a leak occur in the mains or the smaller communication pipes – which run on public land – the wholesaler takes care of repairs and any associated costs. However, once the water enters the supply pipes on your property, responsibility transfers to you. Most businesses have a water meter installed at the boundary, meaning any water passing through – including that lost through leaks – is billed to you.
Who is responsible?
What to do if a leak is outside your property
If you spot a leak outside your property but on public land, you should report it to your water wholesaler immediately. They are responsible for fixing leaks in public mains and infrastructure, and quick reporting can help prevent further waste and potential damage.
Spotting leaks early
Underground leaks often go unnoticed until they cause visible damage such as damp patches on walls or floors, flooding, or even structural issues. By the time these signs appear, significant damage may have already been done. A simple yet effective method is to regularly monitor your water meter. Compare your monthly usage and, if you notice a sudden unexplained increase, investigate further. You can also check for leaks by reading your meter during periods of inactivity. Turn off the internal stopcock, wait around half an hour, and then check the reading again – any rise is a clear sign of a leak.
Additional leak prevention tips:
Taking swift action
If you suspect an underground leak, contact your water retailer immediately. At Castle Water, we offer specialised leak detection and repair services that utilise advanced technology to pinpoint the issue quickly and accurately, ensuring repairs are made with minimal disruption. For sudden leaks, the first step is to turn off the stop tap to stop further water loss. Then, report the leak and call a trusted plumber. Acting quickly can reduce damage and help keep repair costs to a minimum.
Leak assistance
While we can’t be held accountable for water lost through leaks, we do offer assistance. In some instances, we can help you claim a leak allowance like we did for Verulam School.
Verulam School’s leak allowance success
When a series of unexpected increased water bills indicated a leak, and call-outs from private contractors were unsuccessful, Verulam School turned to Castle Water for support. Castle Water immediately organised a site visit to fix the unrepaired leak and completed a leak allowance application on the customer’s behalf. This resulted in Verulam School being granted a full leak allowance by their water network wholesaler of over ￡13,600.
An expensive unresolved leak
Verulam School, a state secondary school in St Albans, England, suffered from two on-site leaks at its multi-meter premises. After unsuccessful call-outs from private contractors, Verulam School approached Castle Water to report the rise in billing and leak concerns. Castle Water quickly obtained water meter readings and discovered that one of the leaks had not been repaired. A site visit was arranged, and the leak was fixed, preventing further water loss. Castle Water estimated that the volume of water saved from repairing the leak was 15,163m3.
Over ￡13,600 recovered from leak allowance
Castle Water also informed Verulam School of their option to apply for a leak allowance to cover additional costs. Previously unaware of this opportunity, the school requested Castle Water to handle the application. The request was successful, resulting in a full leak allowance of ￡13,629.20. Kate Locke, Verulam School’s Business Manager, expressed her gratitude, stating:
“I want to thank Castle Water for all your help in guiding us through this process and securing a leak allowance for the school. As you can imagine, the ￡13,629.20 allowance is a huge amount for a state school, and we are extremely grateful for all your support.”
Installing a new water meter reduces costs
Castle Water also identified that one of the school’s water accounts was being billed on an unmeasured tariff. By installing a new water meter, Verulam School was able to track its water consumption more accurately, prevent future leaks, and reduce billing expenses.