Surface water drainage from drive

[keyhole]

My water company (Anglian) separates it's charges into metered water and the sewerage service. The latter is further separated into a foul and surface water service.

Following inquiries I have been advised that the surface water charge is for rainwater that runs off my drive into drains in the road.

I have now been sent a claim form to appeal against this charge if I can prove that no rain water runs from my property into the road. Furure accounts will then be amended accordingly.

Here's the point of this post. The drive is level, and is constructed of brickweave, with lawns on both sides. The only slope is the pavement to the road. Can it be argued that brickweave is a self-draining surface, with rain water going down the cracks between the bricks?

[Rich H]

No. While a very small proportion of water can seep through, block paving is designed such that most of the water is carried off.

[keyhole]

Oh, bugger...

Thanks for your advice anyway...

[Rich H]

You could put in a linear drain at the front and connect it to a new soakaway in one of the lawns. The cost would however far outstrip several years' savings on your water bill.

[Tony McC]

Somewhere in the mess of papers and documents I call my library is a research report form years ago showing that, once a block pavement has been installed for around 6 months, approximately 98% of surface water is 'run-off' with only 2%-ish actually penetrating the surface.

[Dave_L]

I can get a saving of around £16 p/a if I can prove all my storm water goes to a soakaway.

Not worth the expense IMO!

[Edgecraft]

I posted about this a few weeks back with regards to Business premises but wasn't aware that it might also affect residential property as well.

Worrying !

Darren