Water bills set to rise again for millions of households – how you can cut costs

Millions of households face further water bill rises to fund £3.4 billion worth of investment in the network.

The regulator Ofwat has provisionally approved a package of funding to increase capacity, provide cleaner drinking water and upgrade treatment sites.

However, it means bills are set to rise by up to £43 a year between 2027 and 2030 for many customers in England and Wales.

The hikes are not yet confirmed and are going through a consultation phase, before any final approval is made in December.

The rises come in addition to previously approved increases to upgrade the network between 2025 and 2030.

Helen Campbell, executive director for delivery at Ofwat, said: “We will track performance to ensure companies are delivering the expected improvements for customers and the environment. If they don’t, expenditure can be clawed back.”

Which water firms are increasing bills?

Customers of the following five water firms are set to see their bills rise over the three-year period:

Source: Ofwat

Water firms say they need to increase customers’ bills to replace pipes and reduce leaks across the network, provide water to more people and businesses and because of heavier rainfall which can lead to more flooding and loss of water from storm overflows.

However, recent rises have been met with criticism from households and campaigners following water supply issues and pollution in rivers and seas.

Kierra Box, water campaigner at environmental group Friends of the Earth, said: “Our rivers and seas are chock full of filthy sewage and chemicals, which have seen next to no improvement despite recent bill hikes.

“Now ordinary people are being asked to foot the bill once again to pay for decades of water company inaction on upgrading our crumbling water infrastructure. It’s daylight robbery.”

Customers with Anglian Water, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, Hafren Dyfrdwy, Northumbrian Water, South West Water, United Utilities, Yorkshire Water and SES Water will face no further bill rises between 2027 and 2030.

How you can cut your water bill

It’s worth regularly checking your water bill and comparing it to earlier bills to see if there has been a spike.

If there has been, you might have a water leak in your home that means you’re using a lot more than you usually do and will need to get fixed.

You could also switch to a water meter which charges you based on your actual usage rather than the rateable value of your home. Most homes can have a water meter installed for free.

However, a water meter can see your bill rise as well as fall. The Consumer Council for Water (CCW), which represents water and sewerage customers, has a calculator you can use to find out if you might save money with a meter.

Typically, single-person households or homes with a high rateable value tend to benefit the most.

You might also be eligible for the WaterSure scheme which caps your water bill.

You’ll need to have a water meter, be on certain benefits such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit and have a medical condition that means you have to use extra water or have a large number of people living in your household.

Plenty of water firms offer customers free or cheap water-saving gadgets such as leak-detecting strips and water-efficient shower heads too.

Advice website Save Water Save Money has a tool on its website where you can enter your postcode and find out what gadgets you’re eligible for.

There are smaller practical steps you can take to save water around your home, such as making sure your dishwasher is full when using it and taking shorter showers.