Charity campaigners have finally won concessionary water charges for the voluntary sector after a two-year battle led by The Scout Association and church groups.

The Flood and Water Management Act, which was given Royal Assent last week, exempts charities from new water bills which charge for surface water drainage according to the size of the site area instead of the rateable value of the property. This would have dramatically increased water charges for some charities, especially those likely to have large grounds, like churches or scout halls.

Following intense lobbying by The Scout Association and church groups, which formed the campaign group DontDrainUs, a concessionary charge for charities and community groups was added to the Flood and Water Management Act, which was one of the last pieces of business carried out before the dissolution of Parliament ahead of the general election.

Martin Dales, founder of DontDrainUs aid: "It is a rare achievement for ordinary people to get a government to listen and to act against unfair interpretation of the law. This is good news for everyone involved in community activities across the country."