Are we entitled to reduction in water rates?

[WendyS]

The road in which we live contains no drains and the downpipes catching water from our roof merely disappear into the ground at the bottom of the house walls (presumably into soakaways)

Does this entitle us to claim the �17.50 refund off our water rates bill for highway drainage and surface water from our property not draining to water board sewers?

How would we know whether our downpipes are connected into sewers? (Have also posted in Finance as unsure of the most suitable location for this question).

[buildersmate]

Yes it does. Did you see my reply to the earlier question about this a few days ago? http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Home_and_Garden /Question273729.html You find out by checking the flow of the pipes into the manholes. Get the cover off, run each of the house soil stacks (but flushing the loo or running a tap). Check which holes the water flows from into the manhole bottom. If there are no more holes emerging into the manhole (from the downpipes) they must flow into soakaways. Or check your drainage drawing if you have it.