How Much Your Water Bill Will Increase – And What You Can Do NOW To Avoid Higher Costs

Household water bills are expected to rise by an average of £94 over the next five years, with some unlucky areas seeing their bills rise by almost £200.

In one area of ​​the country, bills are expected to fall, if only by £12.

The changes to water bills are set out in proposals from regulator Ofwat, which has analysed the spending plans of English and Welsh water companies.

These water companies submitted their five-year spending plans to Ofwat in October 2023.

Most felt that bills should be increased to pay for infrastructure improvements, including the resolution of the sewage disposal scandal in waterways and seas.

Now the regulator has announced changes to the bill that it considers reasonable and has placed one water company, Thames Water, under special measures.

Ofwat will make a final decision on the exact scope of the proposed legislation in December 2024.

The largest expected bill increases by far will affect customers of Southern Water, which operates in Kent, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, East Sussex and West Sussex.

These households will see a bill increase of almost half (44 percent) if Ofwat officially approves the proposals.

Below you can see how the regulator wants to change the water bills in your region.

Mike Keil, chief executive of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), said: ‘Millions of people will be feeling angry and anxious at the prospect of these rising water bills and will question whether they are fair, given the reputation of some water companies for failure and poor service.

‘Customers understand that there is an urgent need for investment, but they want the assurance that every euro is well spent.

‘Confidence in water companies is at an all-time low and it won’t change until people see and experience the difference. Whether it’s by being able to swim with confidence at their favourite beach or by getting help if they’re struggling to pay their bills.’

How to Save Money on Your Water Bill

Think of a water meter

Around 40 per cent of households in England and Wales do not have a water meter. Some households would save money on their water bills by having one fitted.

Installing a water meter is usually the best way to save money on your water bill, especially if you don’t use an above-average amount of water.

Not everyone will save money with a meter, but water companies typically give you two years to try out a meter and you can always switch back if you’re not happy.

Water companies do not have to agree to the installation of a water meter, for example if this would be expensive or counterproductive. This may be the case if multiple homes share the same water pipes.

In some areas it is mandatory to have a water meter if the water company requests it.

The CCW has a calculator that can help you understand whether a water meter can save you money.

However, the rule of thumb is that a water bill can reduce your energy bill if you live in a home with a high rateable value (the formula used to determine estimated water bills), don’t use a lot of water, and/or live alone.

Use less water if possible

If you have a water meter, using less water means lower bills.

The water bill for homes with such a meter consists of the costs for the water used and the daily fixed costs.

But using less water also means lower energy bills, because much of the water used by homes is first heated.

Figures from CCW show that if every family member of four reduced their daily shower time by two minutes, they could save around £280 a year in water and energy bills.

Fix leaks and upgrade high water consuming appliances

You can also save money on your water bill if you fix leaks early, including if you have a meter installed.

Signs of a water leak include: dripping, moisture, discolored walls, floors and ceilings, mold and a musty odor.

But some water leaks are harder to spot. For example, wet spots or greener patches in your yard could indicate a water leak from an underground pipe.

Low boiler pressure can also indicate a leak in your hot water system.

By replacing some appliances at the end of their lifespan, you can also save significantly on your water bill.

For example, according to Kingfisher, owner of B&Q, you could save more than £100 a year by replacing your old toilet with a dual flush model.

This is because toilets are responsible for 22 percent of all water used in a household. With a dual flush toilet, users can control how much water is used with each flush.

Check if you qualify for a social rate

Every water company in England and Wales has its own social tariff scheme, designed to help customers on low incomes.

But who qualifies and the level of support offered varies greatly from company to company, with some cases seeing bills reduced by as much as 90 percent.

CCW has a list of social tariffs and criteria on her website.

For example, Thames Water’s social tariff is called Water Help.

It reduces water bills by 50 percent for households where water costs exceed 5 percent of their net income.

According to the CCW, nearly two million households (15 percent) are eligible for social water tariffs but have not registered.

Five water companies use their own profits to offer lower rates.

These are Welsh Water, Severn Trent, Yorkshire Water, SES Water and United Utilities.

Consider the WaterSure program

WaterSure is a government scheme run by water companies to provide discounts on the bills of eligible households in England and Wales.

To be eligible, a household must receive certain benefits, such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or means-tested Employment and Support Allowance.

Most of the benefits on the list are intended for people with low incomes.

A household that joins WaterSure also needs large quantities of water, for example for medical reasons or because there are many young children.

They must also have a water meter, or be on the waiting list for a water meter.

WaterSure offers discounts on both the water and sewer portions of your water bill.

To apply, you will need to fill out a form from your water company. You will also likely need to show that you are receiving benefits and have a qualifying medical condition.

Consider water-saving gadgets

Many devices that help you save water and money are provided free of charge by water companies, but this does depend on where you live.

These widgets include, for example, water-saving shower heads, rain barrels and the like.

To find out what you can get, enter your zip code in the field Website Save Water Save Money.