Householders in Nether Peover offered chance to win years’ worth of free water

Householders in Nether Peover who say yes to United Utilities’ offer to supply and install a free planter, will be automatically enrolled in a competition to win £225.83 off their water bill.

Water company, United Utilities, has chosen selected households in the Cheshire village to pilot a new scheme to supply and install the planters that store and release rainwater to slow its flow to sewers, helping to reduce the number of times the storm overflow activates into local watercourse, Crowton Brook.

The planters, manufactured by a Trafford-based company, also have the benefit of encouraging householders to reuse some of the stored rainwater for household activities like watering plants and washing muddy boots.

Householders taking part in the pilot will be entered into a prize draw to win £225.83 off their annual water bill which is the average cost of a year’s water charges for household customers.

The more customers who sign up for a free planter the more prizes will be won, with a maximum of five people getting the chance to win money off their water bill. 

A spokesperson for United Utilities said: “A typical roof on a house gathers 30,000 litres of rainwater every year.

“In areas with a combined sewerage system rainwater often goes straight down the drain and mixes with any foul water from homes and businesses.

“When the rain is heavy and persistent this means that the treatment works can become quickly overwhelmed by the volume, forcing the storm overflow to operate.

“We believe these planters will help rainwater management in the area and we would like to encourage all eligible households to take part in our pilot.”

United Utilities will be contacting households selected for the pilot to offer them the chance to register for the free planter and be automatically entered into the prize draw.

After registration households will be contacted to arrange an installation date for the planters which are due to be installed between 16 September and 4 October 2024.