Calculate your water and sewerage charges for Midlands region. Average bill £587/year (£48.94/month). Metered and unmetered rates available.
Calculate your annual water and sewerage charges:
If you have a water meter, charges based on actual usage measured in cubic meters (m³):
| Charge Type | Water Supply | Sewerage |
|---|---|---|
| Standing Charge | £51.83/year | £58.84/year (£39.16 + £19.68 highway) |
| Volumetric Rate | £2.5503/m³ | £1.6255/m³ |
| Typical 120 m³/year | £358/year | £254/year |
| Total Typical Annual | £612/year (£51/month) | |
← Scroll table horizontally on mobile →
If you DON'T have a meter, charges based on property's rateable value (RV) and charging zone:
| Zone | Area Examples | Water Rate (£/£RV) | Sewerage Rate (£/£RV) | Total Rate (£/£RV) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull | 0.2505 | 0.2356 | 0.4861 |
| Zone 2 | Leicester, Derby, Burton | 0.2054 | 0.1931 | 0.3985 |
| Zone 3 | Nottingham, Mansfield, Newark | 0.2305 | 0.2168 | 0.4473 |
| Zone 4 | Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford | 0.2505 | 0.2356 | 0.4861 |
← Scroll table horizontally on mobile →
Example unmetered calculation (Zone 3, RV £200):
Water: £8.30 fixed + (£200 × 0.2305) = £54.40
Sewerage: £8.30 fixed + (£200 × 0.2168) = £51.66
Total: £106.06/year (£8.84/month)
Much cheaper than typical metered £612/year! Unmetered often better for families with high water usage.
Severn Trent bills rising significantly 2024-2030 to fund infrastructure investment:
Total increase 2024-2030: £183/year (40% over 6 years) - funds £3.8 billion infrastructure program including leakage reduction, water quality improvement, environmental protection, new treatment works.
Severn Trent serves 4.6 million households and businesses across Midlands and parts of Wales:
Severn Trent has 10 charging zones (1-10) for unmetered customers. Most common zones:
Don't know your charging zone? Check your latest Severn Trent bill - zone number shown on bill summary. Or contact Severn Trent customer services 0800 783 4444 with your postcode to confirm zone.
60% of Severn Trent customers have meters. Whether metered or unmetered is cheaper depends on household size, usage, and rateable value:
Example: 2-person household, RV £250, Zone 1
Unmetered: £8.30 + (£250 × 0.4861) = £129.83/year
Metered (80 m³): £110.67 + (80 × 4.18) = £445/year
Unmetered £315/year cheaper! Actually for this case, unmetered is better.
Example: 4-person household, RV £150, Zone 2
Unmetered: £16.60 + (£150 × 0.3985) = £76.38/year
Metered (180 m³): £110.67 + (180 × 4.18) = £863/year
Unmetered £787/year cheaper! Huge saving staying unmetered.
Severn Trent installs water meters FREE of charge:
New metered tariff with tiered pricing to encourage water conservation:
Example 120 m³/year household:
Monthly: 10 m³ = (5 × £1.02) + (5 × £2.55) = £17.85/month
Annual: (£17.85 × 12) + £79.49 standing = £293/year
Saves £319/year vs standard metered £612!
Trial limited to selected areas. Check eligibility at www.stwater.co.uk/watersmart
Severn Trent sends bills twice per year (half-yearly billing):
| Payment Method | How It Works | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Debit (Monthly) | Spread annual cost over 12 monthly payments | Spread cost evenly, automatic, 5% discount available, DD guarantee protection | Builds credit in summer (overpay), uses credit in winter |
| Direct Debit (Half-yearly) | Pay exact bill amount twice per year | Pay only what billed, no credit build-up, automatic | Large payments twice per year (£250-300 each) |
| Online/Phone Payment | Pay by debit/credit card when billed | Control over payment timing, no DD setup | Must remember to pay, no discount, risk late payment |
| Bank Transfer | Manual transfer to Severn Trent account | No card fees, flexible timing | Must remember account details, no discount |
| PayPoint (Cash) | Pay cash at PayPoint stores | No bank account needed, cash payment | Must visit store, no discount, risk losing barcode |
← Scroll table horizontally on mobile →
WaterSure caps metered bills at average unmetered bill for low-income households with high essential water needs.
Eligibility criteria (must meet ALL):
Benefits:
Apply: Call 0800 783 4444 or apply online at www.stwater.co.uk/watersure - provide benefit proof and GP letter if medical condition.
If struggling to pay Severn Trent bills, help available:
If you have a water meter, reducing usage directly cuts your bill. Top water-saving tips:
Total savings: £367/year (60% reduction from typical £612/year metered bill to £245/year!)
Realistically, implementing 50% of tips saves £180-200/year - still significant savings.
Metered customers should submit readings every 6 months to avoid estimated bills:
Meter reading frequency: Submit before each bill (March and September) to ensure accurate charges. Severn Trent reads meters once per year - other bill is estimate if you don't submit.
Severn Trent customer service performance (Ofwat data):
2026-27 charges: Average bill £587/year £48.94/month rising from £539 in 2025-26 = 8.8% increase £48/year. Metered charges £51.83 standing + £2.55/m³ water + £1.63/m³ sewerage, typical 120 m³ household pays £612/year. Unmetered charges based on rateable value Zone 1-4 rates £0.40-0.49 per £RV, typical RV £200 Zone 3 pays £106/year MUCH cheaper than metered for large families.
Service area: 4.6 million customers across Midlands and Wales, major cities Birmingham/Nottingham/Leicester/Derby/Coventry/Stoke, 10 charging zones with Zone 1 and 4 highest rates Zone 2 lowest. 60% customers metered 40% unmetered.
Metered vs unmetered: Meter cheaper for small households low usage high rateable value 1-2 people Band D-H properties, unmetered cheaper for large households high usage low rateable value 4+ people Band A-C. Free meter installation 4-8 weeks 2-year trial period can revert if bills higher (limited circumstances). Water Smart tariff trial tiered pricing £1.02/m³ essential 0-5 m³, £2.55 standard 5-10 m³, £6.38 premium over 10 m³ saves £319/year vs standard metered for typical household.
Payment options: Half-yearly bills April and October, Direct Debit monthly spreads cost 5% discount available, DD half-yearly pays exact bill twice per year, online/phone/bank transfer/PayPoint cash. WaterSure scheme caps metered bills at £587/year for low-income households with high essential water needs 3+ children OR medical condition + receiving benefits, saves £200-500/year backdated 13 months.
Payment difficulty support: Payment plans 12-36 months interest-free spread arrears, Big Difference Scheme up to £500 bill reduction hardship, Restart Scheme clear up to 100% debt strict criteria, payment breaks 1-3 months temporary hardship, Priority Services Register vulnerable customers extra support.
Water-saving tips metered: Shower not bath saves £61/year, shorten showers £61, tap off brushing £73, fix drips £23, dual-flush toilet £104, full dishwasher loads £13, don't pre-rinse £15, water butt £17. Total potential savings £367/year = 60% reduction from £612 to £245 typical metered bill implementing all tips.
Bill increases 2024-2030: Rising from £457 (2024-25) to £640 (2029-30) = £183 increase 40% over 6 years. Funds £3.8 billion infrastructure program leakage reduction water quality improvement environmental protection new treatment works. 2026-27 increase 8.8% relatively small compared to 18% 2025-26 rise.
Customer service: 0800 783 4444 Mon-Fri 8am-8pm emergency 24/7, online account www.stwater.co.uk/myaccount, live chat Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, submit meter readings online/phone/app/SMS before March and September bills. Performance 4.2/5 satisfaction above average, 89 complaints per 10,000 below average 128, 98.3% billing accuracy, 87% first-time resolution, 3.9/5 Trustpilot.
Bottom line: Severn Trent bills increasing significantly 2024-2030 funding infrastructure but 2026-27 rise moderate 8.8%. Large families high usage strongly consider staying unmetered if low rateable value saves hundreds vs metered £106 vs £612. Small households consider meter but check calculator first many cases unmetered cheaper due to low RV. WaterSure essential for low-income metered customers with children or medical needs caps bill at £587. Metered customers implement water-saving tips save £180-360/year significant reduction. Overall Severn Trent performs above average customer service billing accuracy reasonable option for Midlands residents.