--- title: Compare Business Water Suppliers & Rates | The Utilities Group description: Compare business water suppliers and cut your water bill. We check your charges for errors, switch your retailer and handle everything. Call 0151 541 6767. image: https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/hubfs/Square.jpeg --- [Skip to content](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/business-water#main-content) ![PHOTO-2026-07-09-21-19-15](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/PHOTO-2026-07-09-21-19-15.jpg?width=1600&height=933&name=PHOTO-2026-07-09-21-19-15.jpg)Homepage - [Home](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/home?hsLang=en-gb) - [About Us](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/about?hsLang=en-gb) - [Services](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/services?hsLang=en-gb) - [Water](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/business-water) - [Waste](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/business-waste?hsLang=en-gb) - [Blog](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/blog?hsLang=en-gb) - Sectors - [Pub Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/pub-energy?hsLang=en-gb) - [Restaurant Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/restaurant-energy?hsLang=en-gb) - [Cafe & Coffee Shop Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/cafe-energy?hsLang=en-gb) - [Hotel Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/hotel-energy?hsLang=en-gb) - [Takeaway Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/takeaway-energy?hsLang=en-gb) - [Office Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/office-energy?hsLang=en-gb) - [Retail & Shop Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/retail-energy?hsLang=en-gb) - [Manufacturing & Industrial Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/manufacturing-energy?hsLang=en-gb) - [Church & Charity Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/church-charity-energy?hsLang=en-gb) - [Care Home Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/care-home-energy?hsLang=en-gb) - [Home](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/home?hsLang=en-gb) - [About Us](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/about?hsLang=en-gb) - [Services](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/services?hsLang=en-gb) - [Water](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/business-water) - [Waste](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/business-waste?hsLang=en-gb) - [Blog](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/blog?hsLang=en-gb) - Sectors - [Pub Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/pub-energy?hsLang=en-gb) - [Restaurant Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/restaurant-energy?hsLang=en-gb) - [Cafe & Coffee Shop Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/cafe-energy?hsLang=en-gb) - [Hotel Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/hotel-energy?hsLang=en-gb) - [Takeaway Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/takeaway-energy?hsLang=en-gb) - [Office Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/office-energy?hsLang=en-gb) - [Retail & Shop Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/retail-energy?hsLang=en-gb) - [Manufacturing & Industrial Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/manufacturing-energy?hsLang=en-gb) - [Church & Charity Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/church-charity-energy?hsLang=en-gb) - [Care Home Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/care-home-energy?hsLang=en-gb) [Call: 0151 541 6767](tel:01515416767) [![The Utilities Group](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/hubfs/PHOTO-2026-07-09-21-19-15.jpg)](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/?hsLang=en-gb) # Cut your business water bills. Most businesses in England can now choose who bills them for water and wastewater. We compare licensed water retailers, negotiate your rate and handle the switch — your supply, your pipes and your water quality stay exactly as they are. Send us a recent water bill and we'll check your charges for errors and tell you what you could save. No jargon, no pressure. ### Compare Rates Now We work with top suppliers. ![ygp (1)](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/ygp%20(1).png?width=218&height=82&name=ygp%20(1).png) ![british-gas](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/british-gas.png?width=200&height=78&name=british-gas.png) ![osso1](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/osso1.jpg?width=345&height=146&name=osso1.jpg) ![SSELOGO](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/SSELOGO.png?width=276&height=78&name=SSELOGO.png) ![corona-energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/corona-energy.png?width=216&height=52&name=corona-energy.png) ![scottish-power](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/scottish-power.png?width=278&height=90&name=scottish-power.png) ![ugp](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/ugp.png?width=652&height=375&name=ugp.png) ![sefe](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/sefe.png?width=1920&height=1080&name=sefe.png) ![valdalogo](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/valdalogo.webp?width=500&height=234&name=valdalogo.webp) ![edf](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/edf.png?width=1200&height=509&name=edf.png) ![smartest-svg](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/hubfs/smartest-svg.svg) ![Voltx-Animated-Logo-gif](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Voltx-Animated-Logo-gif.gif?width=600&height=200&name=Voltx-Animated-Logo-gif.gif) ## It's easy to get better prices ### Copy of a bill **Send us a recent bill** We just need to see your usage and contract end date. No bill? No problem — we can usually find the details ourselves.  ## We search prices **We check the market for you** We compare the licensed water retailers, audit your current charges for errors and email you the options — clearly laid out, no jargon. ### We deal with everything **We handle the switch** Once you've chosen your preferred rate, we take care of everything with your old and new supplier. You don't lift a finger. . ![make an image of a restaurant-1](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/make%20an%20image%20of%20a%20restaurant-1.jpeg?width=1024&height=1024&name=make%20an%20image%20of%20a%20restaurant-1.jpeg) ### Exceptional Service.   **Independent advice. No targets. No pressure.** Unlike the big brokers, we're not chasing commission targets or pushing preferred suppliers. We're small enough to give every client our full attention — and that means you always get the best deal for *your* business, not the one that pays us the most. *No pushy sales. No scare tactics. Just honest advice.*    ![coffee shop-1](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/make%20a%20picture%20of%20a%20woman%20working%20in%20a%20coffee%20shop-1.jpeg?width=1024&height=1024&name=make%20a%20picture%20of%20a%20woman%20working%20in%20a%20coffee%20shop-1.jpeg) ### What else can you help me with? **We also compare business energy and waste — most clients save on more than one.** If we are already reviewing your water, it costs nothing to check your [business energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/home?hsLang=en-gb) and [business waste](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/business-waste?hsLang=en-gb) contracts at the same time. One point of contact, one set of paperwork, three sets of savings. ![The image depicts a cozy and bustling pub interior brimming with life and warmth Wooden beams arch overhead and the rich deep hues of mahogany and oak furnish the bar and tables creating an inviting atmosphere Patrons of diverse ages and backgrounds-1](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/The%20image%20depicts%20a%20cozy%20and%20bustling%20pub%20interior%20brimming%20with%20life%20and%20warmth%20Wooden%20beams%20arch%20overhead%20and%20the%20rich%20deep%20hues%20of%20mahogany%20and%20oak%20furnish%20the%20bar%20and%20tables%20creating%20an%20inviting%20atmosphere%20Patrons%20of%20diverse%20ages%20and%20backgrounds-1.jpeg?width=1024&height=1024&name=The%20image%20depicts%20a%20cozy%20and%20bustling%20pub%20interior%20brimming%20with%20life%20and%20warmth%20Wooden%20beams%20arch%20overhead%20and%20the%20rich%20deep%20hues%20of%20mahogany%20and%20oak%20furnish%20the%20bar%20and%20tables%20creating%20an%20inviting%20atmosphere%20Patrons%20of%20diverse%20ages%20and%20backgrounds-1.jpeg) ### Dedicated Contact.   We're not a big call centre where you can't reach the right person when you have questions. You'll always deal directly with one point of contact.   ## Can my business switch water supplier? **Yes — if your business is in England, you have been free to choose your water retailer since April 2017.** What changes is the company that bills you, reads your meter and answers the phone. The water itself, the pipes and the wholesaler responsible for them stay exactly the same, so there is no interruption and no work on site. Businesses in Scotland have been able to switch since 2008. In Wales, only very large users (broadly those using more than 50 million litres a year) can switch, so most Welsh sites stay with their regional supplier. ## What is actually on a business water bill? Water bills bundle several separate charges into one figure, which is why they are so hard to compare and so easy to get wrong. Knowing which parts are fixed and which are open to challenge is where the money is. | Charge | What it pays for | Can it be reduced? | | --- | --- | --- | | Wholesale water | Clean water delivered to your premises by your regional wholesaler | No — set regionally | | Wholesale wastewater | Taking away and treating what goes down your drains | No — set regionally | | Retail charge | Billing, meter reading, customer service and account management | Yes — this is the competitive part | | Surface water drainage | Rainwater running off your roof, yard and car park into the public sewer | Often yes, and rebates can be backdated | | Trade effluent | Discharging non-domestic waste water such as food, oils or chemicals | Yes — consent, volume and strength charges are all reviewable | | Standing charge | A fixed charge based on the size of your meter | Sometimes — oversized meters cost more than they need to | ## How much can a business save on water? **The retail element is only a small slice of a typical water bill, so switching alone tends to shave a few per cent — the bigger wins usually come from correcting charges you should never have been paying.** That is why a water review is worth doing even if you are happy with your current retailer. Below are the places we most often find money. | Where savings come from | What it usually looks like | | --- | --- | | Retail discount from switching | A modest but ongoing reduction on every bill | | Incorrect surface water drainage | One of the largest single wins, and often backdated | | Estimated or misread meters | Bills corrected to actual usage, sometimes with a credit | | Redundant or oversized meters | Standing charges removed or reduced | | Undetected leaks | Wasted water stopped, and a leak allowance may apply | | Trade effluent charges | Consent and strength assumptions brought back in line with reality | *We do not quote guesses. Once we have a copy of your bill we come back with the actual numbers for your site.* ## What is surface water drainage, and why do so many businesses overpay? **Surface water drainage is a charge for rainwater that falls on your site and drains into the public sewer.** It is normally worked out from the area of your premises rather than measured, so the figure is only as good as the assumption behind it. If some or all of your rainwater actually goes to a soakaway, a watercourse or a private drainage system, you may be paying for a service you do not receive. Any site with a large roof, yard or car park is worth checking, and where a claim succeeds the reduction can sometimes be backdated. ## How switching business water works 1. **Send us a recent bill.** If you cannot find one, sign a letter of authority and we will get the details from your supplier. 2. **We audit the charges.** Meter reads, drainage, standing charges and trade effluent all get checked before we look at price. 3. **We compare licensed retailers.** You get the options laid out plainly, including service levels and billing frequency, not just a headline rate. 4. **You choose and we handle the switch.** We deal with the old and new retailer and keep you posted. 5. **Nothing changes on site.** Same water, same pipes, same wholesaler for leaks and emergencies. ## Which businesses save the most on water? Any metered business can benefit, but the savings are biggest where water is central to the day job or where the site has a lot of hard standing. Pubs, restaurants and hotels, care homes, gyms and leisure centres, laundries and car washes, food and drink producers, schools, and multi-site retailers and landlords all tend to see the largest corrections. If you run a hospitality site, our guide to [commercial water rates for restaurants and bars](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/blog/restaurant-water-rates-savings?hsLang=en-gb) is a good place to start. ## Do I need a water meter? **Most business premises are already metered, and if yours is not, a meter usually pays for itself.** Unmeasured charges are based on the rateable value of the property rather than what you actually use, which penalises businesses that use little water. If you are unsure which basis you are on, it will say on your bill and we can check it for you. ## Frequently asked questions about business water ### Will my water supply be interrupted if I switch? No. Switching changes who bills you, not who pipes the water to you. Nothing is dug up, nothing is turned off and the water quality is identical. ### Who fixes a leak or a burst once I have switched? Your regional wholesaler still owns and maintains the network, so they still deal with leaks, bursts and pressure problems. Your retailer is your first point of contact and will report it for you. ### Can I switch if I am in Scotland or Wales? Scotland has had an open business water market since 2008, so yes. In Wales only very large users can switch, so most Welsh businesses stay with their regional supplier — though we can still review the bill for errors. ### How long does a water switch take? Typically around four to six weeks from paperwork to your first bill from the new retailer, depending on meter reads and how quickly the outgoing retailer closes the account. ### Does it cost anything to use a broker? You pay us nothing directly. We are paid by the retailer you choose, and we will tell you plainly how that works before you sign anything. We do not have volume targets with any supplier. ### My landlord bills me for water — can I still switch? It depends on whether the supply is in your name and separately metered. Send us a bill or your lease terms and we will tell you where you stand. ### I have trade effluent consent. Does that stop me switching? No, but it does need handling properly. Trade effluent charges are often based on old assumptions about volume and strength, so it is worth reviewing at the same time. ## More on business water - [The hidden drain: how restaurants and bars overpay on commercial water rates](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/blog/restaurant-water-rates-savings?hsLang=en-gb) - [Top 5 mistakes when choosing a utility broker](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/blog/top-5-mistakes-when-choosing-a-utility-broker?hsLang=en-gb) - [Practical ways to reduce your business running costs](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/blog/reduce-costs?hsLang=en-gb) We also compare [business energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/home?hsLang=en-gb) and [business waste collection](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/business-waste?hsLang=en-gb). See all our [services](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/services?hsLang=en-gb) or call 0151 541 6767. ##### Frequently asked questions What is an LOA ? An LOA ( letter of authority ) allows us to find information from your current supplier such as usage and contract end date. If we arrange the switch we can use this to inform the supplier. Do you arrange the switch of supplier ? Yes we deal with everything. Once you are happy with your new rates you can sit back and relax and we will take care of the rest. What support do you offer ? We don't just arrange the new supply and disappear like some brokers. If you ever have any queries or questions then we deal with the supplier on your behalf ( no more sitting on hold )  Do you offer any other services ? Yes- we also work with waste and water suppliers and can help save you money there. ![Screenshot 2024-09-16 22.58.22](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/hubfs/Screenshot%202024-09-16%2022.58.22.png "Screenshot 2024-09-16 22.58.22") --- #### [Privacy Policy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/privacy?hsLang=en-gb) · [Complaints Process](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/complaintsprocess?hsLang=en-gb) · #### © 2025. C/O The Accountancy Partnership, Twelve Quays House,Wirral, CH41 1LD  Co Reg 13500651 ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "FAQPage", "mainEntity" : [ { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Yes. If your business is in England you have been able to choose your water retailer since April 2017, and businesses in Scotland since 2008. You are changing the company that bills you and reads your meter, not the wholesaler that supplies the water, so there is no interruption to your supply. 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