Surface Water and Water Bills

Can anyone make sense of this from Yorkshire Water

http://www.yorkshirewater.com/?OBH=1130

"Surface water drainage charges
Surface water drainage charges are for the removal of surface water
from your property, to protect your property from damage.

Surface water drainage charges include the cost of removing two
different types of waste water:

* Foul water - waste water from cooking, cleaning, toilets, baths,
showers etc
* Surface water - water that drains from roofs, driveways, paths
etc

Where surface water from any part of your property drains to a public
sewer you must pay full charges. But if you can show that no surface
water or groundwater from your property drains to a public sewer
(directly or indirectly) you can apply to pay a lower sewerage charge.

If your property is part of a building (e.g. a flat) and the building
itself is connected to the public sewer for the removal of surface
water, you'll not be entitled to claim a reduction in charges.
Where does rainwater go?

For most customers, the rain that falls onto their property drains, as
surface water, to the public sewer. There are a very small number of
properties where none of the surface water drains to the public sewer.
Those customers could claim a lower sewerage charge.

Before claiming a rebate, please investigate if your surface water
drains to a watercourse, stream, river or soakaway (buried pit in the
ground where water gradually seeps away).

Examine your external pipework. This will usually show that the
drainpipe from your gutter eventually discharges to the same drain as
the waste water from your kitchen or toilets.
How can I claim a lower sewerage charge?

If you can demonstrate that no surface water from your property drains
to a public sewer, you can download an application form and send us an
accurate plan of your property on a scale big enough to show any
roads, footpaths or other properties near your property, your
properties boundary, the public sewer and your connection to it and
the way surface water drains from your property, including and
gullies, manholes, inspection chambers, underground drainage pipes and
areas where water soaks into the ground.

Please remember that you're still liable for surface water drainage
charges if your site discharges to a Yorkshire Water sewer that is for
surface water only and that if you successfully claim a rebate you're
obliged to inform us if your drainage arrangements change. "

We are being charged about 40 quid extra for surface water drainage.
It appears as an extra charge on the bill along with sewerage and the
normal water bill charge. From the leaflet which came with it, it
states that the surface water drainage cost is included in the
sewerage charge and that if you can show that your SW does not end up
in the sewerage system then you can claim a rebate. If this is the
case then how can they get away with charging for full sewerage AND a
SW drainage charge?

.

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