In England and Wales, water bills will rise by an average of £33 a year, or 5.4%, from April 2026
Millions of households will see their water bills increase from next week – but there are ways to cut your costs.
In England and Wales, water bills will rise by an average of £33 a year, or 5.4%, from April 1. Your bill can be calculated either by measuring the amount of water you use, if you have a water meter, or by using the value of your property.
Your bill will also depend on where you live, as there are different rates and charges for different regions.
Water companies were previously granted permission by regulator Ofwat to raise average bills by 36% over a five-year period, to 2030.
But it comes as water companies continue to face backlash for dumping raw sewage into rivers and coastal waters.
Water UK said the increases are needed to deliver a £104billion investment programme to fund infrastructure and stop sewage spills.
However, campaigners have warned that rising bills will be concerning for families who are already struggling with higher costs.
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.”
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
Even using just a little less water can make a big difference to your bill. For example, 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.
