Following recent coverage, (Argus, March 30) can I please clarify the situation with regard to Southern Water's bills this year?

The average bill for customers who receive both water supply and waste-water services is £244.16, compared with £239.22 the previous year.

This breaks down to an average water supply charge of £91.26 and waste-water disposal charge of £152.90.

This is based on a house with a rateable value of around £200 or measured consumption of approximately 115 cubic metres a year.

These charges not only cover the cost of day-to-day water services but also contribute to Southern Water's multi-million pound environmental improvement programme.

During 2001/2002, we will spend £240 million on schemes to further improve water quality and waste-water treatment standards, part of a five-year programme to carry out more than 450 individual projects.

-Geoff Loader, communications manager, Southern Water