Gardening Which reader Tony Penn claimed money back from his metered water bill because he was using water in the garden and not sending it into the sewage system. Apparently you can claim a ‘wastewater abatement rebate’ or ‘non return to sewer allowance’ if you can prove that you’re using 10% of your water on the garden. If you’ve got a water meter, record the use in the winter and then in the summer. If you’re a gardener and not using a hose during a pipe ban you can claim that the the difference is going on the garden and not down the sewage system. Don’t get too excited though Tony only got £8 a quarter back. But I guess it proves a point – that gardeners should get extra support for their water use.