Water companies were previously granted permission by regulator Ofwat to raise average bills by 36% over a five-year period, to 2030
Water bills in England and Wales will rise by an average of £33 a year from this April.
This represents an increase of around 5.4%, or £2.70 per month, and is higher than the current level of inflation, which sits at 3.4%.
Water companies were previously granted permission by regulator Ofwat to raise average bills by 36% over a five-year period, to 2030.
Water UK said the increases are needed to deliver a £104billion investment programme to fund infrastructure and stop sewage spills. But campaigners said rising bills will be worrying for families who are already struggling with higher costs.
Water UK said an extra 300,000 households are expected to receive support in 2026/27 through social tariffs, taking the total number to around 2.5 million.
A water social tariff is a discounted rate for water and sewerage charges. The expected average discount will be around 40%.
David Henderson, Water UK Chief Executive, said: “We understand increasing bills is never welcome, but the money is needed to fund vital upgrades to secure our water supplies, support economic growth and end sewage entering our rivers and seas.
“While we urgently need investment in our water and sewage infrastructure, we know that for many this increase will be difficult. That is why we will help around 2.5 million households – more than ever before – with average discounts of around 40% off their water bill.”
Mike Keil, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), said: “We’ve seen complaints brought to CCW about the affordability of water bills almost triple in the past year and further bill rises will compound people’s worries.
”People support investment in improving services, but they are impatient for change and need to see compelling evidence their money is being well spent. A stronger safety net is also needed for those who simply can’t afford these bill rises.”
Chris Walters, Ofwat interim Chief Executive, said: “We will continue to monitor performance and hold companies to account as they progress on this journey. Money received by companies from customers is ringfenced for improvements, so if they do not deliver on their commitments, they will be made to return money to customers in their future bills.
“However, we also recognise that these bill increases may be difficult for some people. That is why we approved a doubling of company support available for customers who are struggling to pay and now, more than 2 million households are accessing this help.”
Water and sewage firms
- Anglian Water – £674 (up £44 or 7%)
- Dwr Cymru (Welsh Water) – £683 (up £31 or 5%)
- Hafren Dyfrdwy – £635 (up £54 or 9%)
- Northumbrian Water – £535 (up £31 or 6%)
- Severn Trent Water – £587 (up £52 or 10%)
- South West Water – £740 (up £39 or 6%)
- Southern Water – £759 (up £55 or 8%)
- Thames Water – £658 (up £3 or 0.4%)
- United Utilities – £660 (up £57 or 9%)
- Wessex Water – £695 (up £17 or 3%)
- Yorkshire Water – £636 (up £34 or 6%)
Water-only firms
- Affinity Water [Central region] – £266 (up £31 or 13%)
- Affinity Water [East region] – £280 (up £1 or 0.4%)
- Affinity Water [South east region] – £294 (up £3 or 1%)
- Bournemouth Water – £205 (up £11 or 6%)
- Bristol Water – £264 (up £29 or 12%)
- Essex and Suffolk Water – £333 (up £15 or 5%)
- Portsmouth Water – £162 (up £13 or 8%)
- South East Water – £324 (up £21 or 7%)
- South Staffs Water [Cambridge region] – £210 (up £7 or 3%)
- South Staffs Water [South Staffs region] – £230 (up £6 or 2%)
- Sutton & East Surrey Water – £257 (up £26 or 11%)
How to cut your water bill
You can’t switch water companies, but that doesn’t mean you can’t save money. Even using just a little less water can make a big difference to your bill.
For example, you could reduce your shower time by just one minute and make sure you switch the taps off when they’re not in use.
Check for free water-saving devices through Save Water Save Money. It varies depending on where you live, but some freebies include shower heads that regulate the flow of water, or tap inserts.
You may also benefit from getting a water meter. Martin Lewis suggests you could save cash if you have more or the same number of bedrooms in your house than people.
