Choosing Your Water Supplier: Everything You Need to Know

18 Feb 2026

Many business owners are surprised to learn that they’re not tied to a single water supplier. At Source for Business, this is a story we hear all the time. Most of the businesses we come across say they’ve been with the same water supplier for years without ever actively choosing them. Some believe they have no alternative, while others assume switching would be disruptive, difficult, or simply not worth the effort.

In England and Scotland, business customers are free to decide which company will provide and manage water services, as well as handle billing and accounts. If you have ever wondered “can you change water supplier?” or “can I switch my water supplier?”, this guide is here to tell you everything about how to choose your water supplier.

Understanding How Business Water Services Are Structured

Before thinking about switching, it helps to understand how the business water market is set up. One of the most common misconceptions is that your water supplier and your local water company are the same thing.

Generally, they take very different roles.

Your local water company, often known as the wholesaler, owns and is responsible for the infrastructure. They manage the pipes, treatment works, and wastewater network in your locality. This service element is determined by location and therefore does not change.

Your water retailer is the organisation that takes care of your account. They handle billing, contracts, customer service, and they can support you if you face issues like usage queries, meter accuracy, or efficiency improvements.

Switching water supplier simply means choosing a different retailer. The water itself (its quality, pressure, and reliability) remains the same.

Understanding how business water services work

Changing water retailer will not affect your water supply physically.

The water is still provided through the same pipes, and the quality of the water remains the same.

The local water company (the wholesaler) remains responsible for the infrastructure, treatment works, and sewage network.

Your water retailer is the one who takes care of your account, billing, customer service, and contract.

Why Businesses Start Rethinking Their Water Supplier

Most businesses that switch business water suppliers do so to save money. Some choose to switch because of the service or clearer bills. The decision usually starts with a small frustration.

Reasons for switching water supplier often include:

  • Difficult to understand water bills
  • Expensive water rates
  • Poor customer service
  • Difficulty managing multiple sites
  • Lack of support with water usage or billing issues

Over time, these issues add up. What initially seemed like a fixed cost begins to feel inefficient and opaque. This is often the point where businesses start asking whether their current supplier is still the right fit.

One of the main trends among businesses is to simply have more control over their account.

What Actually Changes When You Switch Supplier

Some businesses stick to their water supplier due to fear of disruption. Actually, changing your water supplier is more of an administrative change rather than a physical one.

The actual supply doesn't change. It is the same water through your pipes, from the same water treatment plant, without any interruption.

What can change significantly is the experience of managing your water services. A different retailer could offer you a different level of service such as clearer billing, more transparent rates, better customer support, leak detection and water audits that help you to understand and reduce consumption.

For businesses which have never actively chosen their supplier, this difference can be more noticeable than expected.

Check Your Last Water Bill Before Making a Switch

Before you compare suppliers, look at the last water bill you received. It provides valuable information on:

  • Your current water rates
  • Your water consumption
  • Details of your water meter
  • Charges for wastewater
  • Charges for trade effluent

Most businesses are unaware they are paying a default tariff simply because they have never reviewed or renegotiated their contract.

Being aware of your current situation will make it simpler for you to decide if a new offer is better.

Default Tariffs and Their Significance

A default tariff is the standard rate applied when a business has not actively agreed a contract with a water retailer. While this is not inherently a problem, default tariffs are rarely tailored to your actual usage or operational needs.

Some businesses that have been using default tariffs for years may have reviewed whether the structure continues to suit their needs. Furthermore, they may also have missed opportunities to explore additional support services, such as water efficiency guidance, that can help manage consumption over time.

Reviewing your tariff is not just about chasing lower prices. It is also about making sure that the water services you get are in line with how your business currently operates today and supporting informed decision-making based on a clear understanding of your options.

What should you compare before deciding?

Choosing the right business water supplier is not just about price.

It is also worth considering contract length, billing clarity, customer service reputation, and how easy it is to manage your account.

How Switching Typically Works with Source for Business

Switching your water supplier to Source for Business is designed to be simple and hassle-free. Most of the process happens behind the scenes, so your supply is uninterrupted.

It only takes a few minutes to get started.

Check a few details from your latest water bill for the Switching Team at Source for Business to assess the rates, usage, and services you currently have. Getting this done takes about five minutes and it establishes the starting point for the comparison.

When the new plan is finalised, our team takes care of the switch with your current retailer, confirms supply details, and ensures that everything goes smoothly without any disruption.

Your previous supplier will send you with the final bill for the period until the changeover. From then onwards, Source for Business will manage your account, billing, and customer service, thus giving you the assurance and control without having to do extra work.

Could switching help you save money?

It might be the case, but it is dependent on your circumstances.

Your bills could be lower if:

  • Your water rates are high on default tariffs
  • Your bills include errors
  • You manage multiple sites
  • You have never compared suppliers before
  • You’ve made water efficiency improvements, or reduced water usage over time.

As well as switching suppliers, additional services can help businesses reduce their water bills in the long term. Source for Business supports customers with tools such as:

  • Water audits to identify inefficiencies and potential savings.
  • Leak detection and monitoring with smart loggers.
  • Greywater reuse solutions to reduce potable water consumption.
  • Metering insights that track consumption patterns across sites.

By combining a competitive supplier with proactive water management services, businesses can not only reduce immediate costs but also gain better control over ongoing water usage and improve sustainability.

Every business is unique, so it is important to check your bills and usage first.

Why water usage matters when comparing suppliers

Suppliers usually price contracts based on expected water consumption.

If your water usage is either inaccurate or not clear, comparisons may not show the real cost.

That is the reason why it is important to know your existing water usage and have dependable meter reading data.

The role of the water meter

Your water meter keeps a record of how much water your premises uses.

Precise meter readings can help to make sure that:

  • You pay only for the water that you use 
  • Unexpected water consumption spikes are found
  • Water leaks are discovered sooner

A water meter is, arguably, the most important tool to control your water bills. 

Switching business water supplier for multi-site companies 

Businesses with several sites may be able to get the most from reviewing suppliers. 

Managing multiple water bills can be time-consuming. 

Some retailers provide a consolidated billing service that combines all sites together into one account, thus facilitating:

  • Cost tracking
  • Payment management
  • Water usage monitoring
  • Oversight across the business

Trade effluent and wastewater considerations

Some industrial businesses, such as manufacturers or food producers, release trade effluent into the sewer system.

This may have an impact on wastewater charging and the way bills are set up.

Switching water supplier does not eliminate the legal obligations concerning wastewater. However, it might change how transparent those charges are communicated and handled. At Source for Business, we can help you with:

  • Understand trade effluent tariffs and any applicable wastewater charges.
  • Make invoicing simpler and explain your bills more clearly.
  • Provide advice on effluent monitoring and help you prevent unnecessary charges.
  • Integrate trade effluent management with overall water efficiency measures.

Additionally, Source for Business can help a business through water audits, metering, and leak detection services that will over time reduce the wastewater costs of a business. By switching to a retailer that actively supports your operational needs, you will have stronger control, transparency, and insights into your water and wastewater consumption. 

For more thorough assistance, businesses can check out Source for Business’s water management services to see how trade effluent and wastewater are taken care of in an efficient way along with your water supply.

Making an informed decision

Switching water supplier should be based on understanding rather than persuasion.

Spend time going through your bills, understanding your usage, comparing the options, and deciding what feels right to your business.

FAQs

Yes, in fact, the majority of non-household customers in England and Scotland have the option of selecting their water retailer.

Definitely not. The supply, pressure, and quality remain the same.

In most cases, if they are the ones to pay the water bill, the answer is yes.

No. Switching is done administratively without any interruption to service.

Usually, the whole process will be completed within a couple of weeks.

Absolutely, it depends on your existing rates, billing accuracy, and water consumption. Combined with services like water audits and leak detection, businesses can often cut costs over the long term.

Your previous retailer will issue a final invoice which will cover all outstanding charges up to the changeover date. After that, your new retailer takes over the billing entirely.

Yes. Source for Business, offer consolidated billing and account management across multiple sites, simplifying oversight and payments.

Switching is available for non-household customers in England and Scotland. Rules vary slightly between regions, but the principle of choice remains the same.

No. The wholesaler manages infrastructure and supply; switching only affects the retailer handling your account, billing, and service.