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Water Bills Surge: £33 Hike Amidst Sewage Crisis
29 Jan
Summary
- Average household water bills will rise by 5.4% from April.
- Companies plan £20 billion investment to fix supplies and sewage.
- Customer complaints about water companies have significantly increased.
From April, average household water bills in England and Wales will increase by 5.4%, an average of £33 per year. This rise is intended to fund significant infrastructure upgrades, with companies planning to invest £20 billion by 2026-27 to secure water supplies and halt sewage discharges into rivers and seas. Water UK asserts that funds will only support independently verified, necessary improvements.
Despite the planned investments, customer dissatisfaction is high, evidenced by a 51% increase in complaints to the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) in 2025. Many customers feel their money is not being well-spent, particularly given past underinvestment. Some regions will see much higher increases, with Affinity Water customers facing a 13% jump.
To mitigate hardship, over two million households currently receive bill assistance, and this support is expected to expand to an additional 300,000 households. Ofwat anticipates significant improvements by April 2027, including widespread water metering, pipe replacements, and a 30% reduction in sewage spills. Water companies are offering a money-back guarantee if improvements are not delivered.
