Water bills to rise by average of £123 a year: what support is available?

If you live in England or Wales, your water bill will increase by an average of £123, or 25%, starting in April.  

This means the typical water and wastewater bill will jump from £480 a year to £603 – around £10 extra per month. 

Some areas will see bigger increases than others. Southern Water customers will face the biggest hike, with a 47% increase, pushing their bill to £703.  

Here’s a breakdown of the price changes for different companies: 

• Anglian Water: £99 increase (19%) 

• Welsh Water (Dŵr Cymru): £136 increase (27%) 

• Hafren Dyfrdwy: £143 increase (32%) 

• Northumbrian Water: £79 increase (19%)  

• Severn Trent Water: £99 increase (22%) 

• South West Water: £166 increase (32%) 

• Southern Water: £224 increase (47%) 

• Thames Water: £151 increase (31%) 

• United Utilities: £112 increase (23%) 

• Wessex Water: £113 increase (20%) 

• Yorkshire Water: £136 increase (29%) 

Why are water bills going up? 

Water bills may be higher than expected due to inflation being added to the annual totals, according to Water UK. 

Water companies had also requested larger increases to fund important upgrades to infrastructure, like improving storm overflows to prevent sewage spills. 

In response to public concern about large dividends paid to shareholders, Water UK has reassured customers that they will benefit from these investments.  

Water companies plan to invest around £20bn annually until 2030 to improve services.  

This includes: 

• building nine new reservoirs 

• expanding capacity at 1,700 wastewater treatment plants to reduce pollution and clean up rivers 

When will the increase happen? 

The new rates will start on 1 April, when a new five-year pricing period begins. 

What support is available if you’re struggling to pay? 

If the price hike puts a strain on your finances, there’s several options for support: 

Payment plans 

You can set up a plan with your water provider to spread your bill payments over time, making them more manageable.  

Contact your provider directly to discuss how they can help. 

Social tariffs  

Many water companies offer discounts if you’re on a low income or receiving certain benefits. Thames Water, for example, offers a 50% discount to customers whose bills are more than 5% of their net income. Welsh Water offers help for those on means-tested benefits.  

Speak to your provider to see if you qualify for support. 

WaterSure 

The WaterSure scheme helps people with high water usage by capping their bills at the average for their area. It’s aimed at households with three or more children under 19, or those who use higher than average amounts of water because of certain medial conditions.   

To qualify, you must have a water meter and receive certain benefits. 

Priority services register (PSR) 

PSR is a free service offering extra support to vulnerable people, including the elderly, disabled, or those with health conditions. While it doesn’t reduce bills, it ensures you get the support you need.  

Consumer Council for Water (CCW)