Map reveals where water bills are set to rise by up to 47%
MILLIONS of households are gearing up for a steep rise in water bills, with costs set to surge by up to 47% from April, according to industry body Water UK.
The average annual water and wastewater bill will rise by £123, taking it from £480 to £603 – a leap of around £10 per month.
But for some, the increases will be far steeper.
Southern Water customers face the sharpest rise, with bills surging by a staggering £224 (47%), pushing the average yearly cost to £703.
Not far behind, Hafren Dyfrdwy bills will jump by 32%, from £447 a year to £590.
South West Water bills will also rise from £520 a year to £686.
Plus, Thames Water households will shoulder a 31% increase, while Yorkshire Water plans a 29% rise.
However, households supplied by SES Water will actually see their annual bills fall by £5 (-2%) from £254 a year to £249.
The exact amount your bill will change by will depend on factors such as whether you have a water meter and how much water you use.
The increases are higher than those outlined by regulator Ofwat in its recent five-year price limits just before Christmas, as they now include inflation.
Water UK has justified the rise by citing an ambitious £104billion investment programme spanning the next seven years.
From April 2025 to March 2026 alone, water companies are set to spend a record £20billion.
This funding will go towards building nine new reservoirs, upgrading 1,700 wastewater treatment plants to curb pollution, and improving over 15,000 kilometres of rivers.
Other projects include nine new water transfer schemes to secure supplies for the future.
However, the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) said stronger and fairer support was urgently needed to protect struggling households from the largest rise in water bills since the privatisation of the water industry 36 years ago.
Water UK chief executive David Henderson said: “We understand increasing bills is never welcome and, while we urgently need investment in our water and sewage infrastructure, we know that for many this increase will be difficult.”
The industry body added that firms would also support more than three million households with their bills as part of a £4.1billion package over the next five years.
Water UK advised customers should contact their water company directly to see what help was available if they were concerned.
However, the CCW has warned that existing support schemes are inconsistent, with eligibility varying widely depending on where you live, known as a “postcode lottery”.
Mandatory water compensation is increasing
MILLIONS of water customers are set to benefit from huge hikes to compensation levels for the first time since 2000.
New regulations from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have forced water companies to provide higher, compulsory compensation to both customers and businesses.
- Low water pressure: Payments could reach £250, a tenfold increase from the current £25.
- Internal sewer flooding: Compensation could exceed £2,000, compared to the current maximum of £1,000.
- Supply interruptions: Households could receive £150 and businesses £300, as exemplified by a recent incident in South Staffordshire.
- “Do Not Drink” notices: A compulsory payment of £220 for households and £440 for businesses would be triggered, unlike the voluntary £30 offered by Thames Water to residents in Bramley, Sussex, earlier this year.
- Water quality incidents: Customers affected by incidents like the cryptosporidium outbreak in Brixham, Devon, could receive at least £10 per 24 hours, potentially totalling over £500 for extended events.
CCW chief executive Mike Keil said: “These rises are the largest we’ve seen since privatisation and will heap considerable pressure on millions of customers who are already having to make difficult choices.
“Customers want to see investment in improving services and cleaning up our rivers but that can’t come at an unbearable cost to struggling households.
“Around 2.5million households are already in debt to their water company and there is a danger that number will grow unless some companies show more ambition around financial support.”
The timing of the increases come amid high levels of sewage spills and under-investment in pipes, sewers and reservoirs over the last decade.
Despite this, United Utilities and South West Water’s parent company Pennon have already said they will raise dividend payouts to shareholders this year so that they increase in line with inflation.
What water bill support is available?
IT'S always worth checking if you qualify for a discount or extra support to help pay your water bill.
Over two million households who qualify to be on discounted social water tariffs aren’t claiming the savings provided, according to the Consumer Council for Water (CCW).
Only 1.3million households are currently issued with a social water tariff – up 19% from the previous year.
And the average household qualifying for the discounted water rates can slash their bills by £160 a year.
Every water company has a social tariff scheme which can help reduce your bills if you’re on a low income and the CCW is calling on customers to take advantage before bills rise in April.
Who’s eligible for help and the level of support offered varies depending on your water company.
Most suppliers also have a pot of money to dish out to thousands of customers who are under pressure from rising costs – and you don’t have to pay it back.
These grants can be worth hundreds of pounds offering a vital lifeline when faced with daunting water bills.
The exact amount you can get depends on where you live and your supplier, as well as your individual circumstances.
Many billpayers across the country could also get help paying off water debts through a little-known scheme and even get the balance written off.
Companies match the payments eligible customers make against the debt on their accounts to help clear it sooner.
If you’re on a water meter but find it hard to save water as you have a large family or water-dependent medical condition, you may be able to cap your bills through the WaterSure scheme.
Bills are capped at the average amount for your supplier, so the amount you could save will vary.
The Consumer Council for Water estimates that bills are reduced by £307 on average through the scheme.