Frequently Asked Questions

Our invoicing system for Trade Effluent – TEIP – is designed to produce the most accurate invoices possible, which will always reconcile against Wholesale charges. Many customers want to know that their charges are auditable and can be tracked back to these Wholesale charges. Unfortunately, if the Wholesaler enters sampling data in the Central Market Operating System after the month in which it is due to be recorded, this gives rise to a change in charges. This is an issue affecting all areas of England, not just Castle Water. We prefer to always be transparent, and therefore will send a revised bill. We are working with the Market Operator to stop the late upload of sampling data, which we think is unnecessary, and hope that sometime soon we will be able to eliminate the need for these reconciliations.

Trade Effluent is any liquid waste discharged into the sewers from a business or industrial process. Trade Effluent is regulated to ensure the sewerage network can adequately handle and treat the waste. This is to protect the health and safety of staff and to protect the environment.

The types of businesses that normally require a consent include: car washes, launderettes and dry cleaners, transport depots, breweries, dairies and commercial swimming pools. Trade effluent customers can be large or small businesses.

Trade effluent does not include waste that is classed as regular sewerage – waste water from kitchens, bathrooms and toilets; therefore, most hotels, restaurants, cafes, pubs, and hairdressers.

To regulate Trade Effluent, businesses are provided with a licence, or discharge consent. Samples of the trade effluent discharge are taken regularly to ensure customers are complying with the terms of their consent. 

It is a criminal offence to discharge trade effluent waste without a consent.

If you believe that your business may require a Trade Effluent consent, please complete the application form and send it to us

Application form

• For premises in Scotland
• For premises in England

Application guidance note

• For premises in Scotland
• For premises in England

or alternatively email Castle Water’s Trade Effluent Team, if you have any further queries.

To be considered for Key Account status, we expect you to have multiple locations and to have an annual spend of £20,000 or more on your Castle Water bills. Our Key Accounts are managed by a specialist team. You can request to have a dedicated Customer Relationship Manager, who is based in London and will be able to visit your site. This is managed on a case by case basis. If you would like more information, please contact us.

You can call us from 9am-5pm, Mon-Fri on 01250 718700. Alternatively, fill in our contact form here or email support@castlewater.co.uk

Every business premises has a unique Supply Point Identifier to identify the water and/or sewerage supplies at the property. The Supply Point Identifier number is also known as a SPID number. Click here to find out more.

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We require a meter reading for your business premises so that we can bill your account accurately. A meter also allows you to monitor your water usage. If you do not have a water meter and would like to enquire about getting one installed, please contact us.

The cost of having a meter fitted will depend on your location, and the size of the meter required. In some cases, it may be free of charge. To find out more fill in this form and a member of our team will contact you shortly.

Wherever possible - this is sometimes inside your business premises on the supply pipe close to your stop tap. Occasionally they are placed on the outside edge of the property boundary. The installation of a meter will be subject to a survey by the water wholesaler responsible for the water and waste networks in your area.

There are some properties where it might not be possible for us fit a water meter at all. The water wholesaler in your area will determine alternative options.

Meter reads can be submitted here.

Automatic Meter Reading can be particularly beneficial for larger customers with complex sites, particularly if your meter is hard to reach (for example farms), your site is prone to leaks or water usage is difficult to control (for example universities).

Castle Water has framework partners who we can put you in touch with in order to help you get set up with AMR. We can either communicate with these companies on your behalf or put you in touch with them directly.

Castle Water will take at least one meter reading each year. You can also submit a meter reading at any time.