Understanding your SWDE water bill

1. Contact us

Details of the different ways you can contact us.

2. Bill identification

These 4 boxes contain important data:

your customer number, which you should provide when contacting us, allows our customer service to identify you;
the contract account to which the bill relates. It's useful if you own several buildings;
the date on which the bill was issued;
the date by which your bill must be paid.

3. Bill amount

Total amount due for the location and consumption period covered by the bill.

4. Communication area

A free space that allows us to notify you of important information and pass on any messages.

5. Payment slip

This is pre-filled with the amount to be paid.

6. Explanation of the pricing structure

This page explains the different price components calculated on page 3.

7. The 4 cost items of your water bill

The pricing structure mandated by the Walloon Water Code. Walloon distributors are required to apply and comply with this code. It is made up of 4 components:

distribution;
sanitation;
the Social Water Fund;
VAT.

8. Breakdown of your water bill cost items

Graph showing the proportion of the various cost items that make up your bill.

9. Breakdown of the cost components of your water

Detailed explanation of the price calculation and the current rate.

10. Your consumption history

This shows your consumption over the last 5 periods that have been billed to you. It allows you to track your consumption at a glance.

11. This box provides a summary breakdown of your bill:

place where the water is consumed and its number in our database;
meter no;
previous reading and current reading, the difference between the two allows us to calculate your consumption;
volume consumed over the period;
means by which the reading was communicated to us.

12. Breakdown of the water pricing structure in Wallonia:

The fee is due in return for providing you with drinking water and is therefore due whether or not consumption occurs.

It is made up of 2 components:

20 CVD, i.e. the true-cost of supply, that serves to remunerate the provision of the meter and access to the on-call service.
30 CVA, i.e. the true-cost of sanitation, that serves to ensure that all users, including those using alternative water resources (wells, cisterns, etc.), also contribute to the costs of sanitation and water treatment. As 30 CVA are collected through the fee, the first 30 m³ of consumption are exempt from sanitation.

NB: In the case of an unoccupied building, the fee remains due and is payable by the owner.

The pricing structure is broken down into 4 consumption bands:

From 0 to 30 m³: 0.5 x CVD + /
From 30 to 5,000 m³: 1 x CVD + 1 x CVA
From 5,000 to 25,000 m³: 0.9 x CVD + 1 x CVA
Above 25,000 m³: 0.7 x CVD + 1 x CVA

The calculation is made on a pro rata basis of the different rates applicable during the customer's consumption cycle.

13. Calculating your bill

Our bill calculation system works as follows.

Calculation of your total consumption, excluding VAT, for the entire consumption cycle of your bill
Deduction of advance payments excluding VAT billed during the same consumption cycle
Total to be paid excluding VAT (= amount of point 1 - amount of point 2)
Addition of unpaid amounts. If applicable, the instalments of the consumption cycle but also other previously unpaid bills or charges. (This item does not feature on this example)
Addition of VAT
Total including VAT. This amount corresponds to the amount shown on the transfer slip on the first page of your bill.

14. Future instalments (amount and date)

After payment, they will be deducted from your next annual adjustment bill.

15. Water quality

This page is dedicated entirely to the quality of the water supplied to you. It explains:

the origin of your water;
the frequency of checks carried out and the number of samples analysed by our laboratory teams;
useful information for adjusting or maintaining your household appliances (e.g. hardness);
the pH level which allows you to check whether your water is acidic, basic or neutral;
the chemical composition of your water (as on water bottles);
the level of nitrates and pesticides in your water, and the maximum permitted concentration.