Set Up Your Business Water Account

What is a Business Water ‘Gap Site’?

A business water gap site is a property connected to the water and/or wastewater network but not registered for charging, often due to errors or omissions in the water company's records. Or it could be a newly built or converted site that has been turned into a business. It's essentially a property that is receiving water and/or wastewater services but hasn't been properly accounted for in the billing system. 

Here's a more detailed explanation:

What it is:

  • A gap site is a property that is connected to the water supply and/or wastewater network, but it's not being billed by a business water supplier. 

  • This means the property is potentially using the service but isn't registered in the water supplier's system. 

  • It's a situation where there's a gap in the market between the property receiving service and the property being registered for charges. 

Why it happens:

  • New connections: Properties may be newly connected but not yet registered for charges. 

  • Errors in records: There might be inaccuracies or omissions in the water supplier's databases. 

  • Illegal connections: A property could be illegally connected to the water network. 

  • Property changes: Changes to a property (e.g., splitting a property) might not be updated in the system. 

Impact:

  • Unaccounted revenue:

    Gap sites mean water suppliers are not collecting revenue from properties using their services.

  • Regulatory compliance:

    Water suppliers have a duty to accurately account for all properties using their services, and gap sites can impact their compliance. 

Addressing gap sites:

  • Water suppliers and licensed providers are working to identify and address gap sites. 

  • Incentive schemes are sometimes offered to retailers for reporting and correctly registering gap sites. 

  • The process of registering a gap site usually involves a formal application and verification that the property is actually using the service. 

In summary, a gap site is a business property that's connected to the water network but not being billed, creating a gap in the billing system and potentially impacting water suppliers' revenue and compliance