Liverpool schools: water services review set to reduce drainage charges by £60,000

Customer: Eight schools in Liverpool area, managed by Balfour Beatty Investments on behalf of a LEA
Sector: Education
Focus: Review of water drainage charges

Challenge:

Eight schools in Liverpool area, managed by Balfour Beatty Investments on behalf of a local education authority (LEA), suspected that the amount they were paying for surface water drainage charges was incorrect, as it was based on estimated information. The LEA was keen to ensure that the charges accurately reflected the true sums due.

These charges – for the collection and treatment of rainwater by the water company – are determined by the size of the property and surrounding land. Balfour Beatty Investments felt this area of land might have been overestimated, leading to overpayment of drainage charges. Initial enquiries to the water authority for clarification of the chargeable areas led to an adjustment that increased annual costs by over £100,000.

Solution:

Concept Energy Solutions reviewed the drainage charges and carried out site surveys to check the areas that were connected to the sewer, in order to accurately calculate the chargeable area of land.

Of the eight schools surveyed, Concept Energy calculated that in five cases there were grounds for appealing the amounts that the water authority were planning to charge for surface water and highways drainage , following their initial site surveys.

In light of this, Concept Energy submitted applications to the water authority. Drainage experts from the water authority then carried out further site surveys, accompanied by Concept Energy personnel.

Outcome:

As a result of the appeals, revised surface water drainage charges have been agreed for three of the schools. Overall, the LEA has now been able to avoid increases in surface water drainage charges of over £60,000 per year at current tariff rates and rising in future years.