Household water bills throughout England and Wales are set to increase by an average of 5.4% starting this April, according to the latest industry confirmation. This rise translates to approximately £33 per year for the typical household, marking a figure that stands two percentage points above the current inflation rate. The announcement comes as water companies prepare to channel a substantial £20 billion investment into critical infrastructure improvements during the 2026-27 period, aimed at securing water supplies and tackling the persistent issue of sewage entering rivers and seas.
Long-Term Bill Increases and Regional Variations
The water regulator Ofwat has sanctioned a comprehensive 36% increase in bills for water firms between 2025 and 2030. A significant portion of this hike, amounting to 20% or an average of £86, was already implemented in the previous April's annual adjustment. However, the upcoming increases are not uniform across the country, revealing notable regional disparities that will affect consumers differently.
Notable Regional Bill Increases
Several water companies are imposing above-average rises, which will place additional financial pressure on their customers. For instance:
- Severn Trent customers will see a 10% increase in their bills.
- Sutton and East Surrey Water is implementing an 11% rise.
- Bristol Water customers face a 12% increase.
- Affinity Water customers in the central region are warned of a substantial 13% jump.
South East Water, which recently experienced supply disruptions due to Storm Goretti, is raising bills by an average of 7%, bringing the annual cost to £324. This follows an incident where 24,000 residents in Tunbridge Wells were left without drinking water for two weeks, highlighting the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades.
Industry Justification and Customer Support
Water UK chief executive David Henderson acknowledged the unwelcome nature of bill increases but emphasised their necessity. "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," he stated. To mitigate the impact, the industry plans to assist around 2.5 million households with average discounts of approximately 40% off their water bills, representing the largest support initiative to date.
Regulatory Perspectives and Future Plans
Chris Walters, interim chief executive of Ofwat, outlined specific targets for water companies by April 2027. These include installing over eight million water meters in homes to help customers manage their bills, replacing nearly 3,000km of piping to reduce supply disruptions, and cutting sewage spills from storm overflows by 30% from 2024 levels. "These are just three examples that will help us reach our collective goal of cleaner rivers and seas, more resilient water supplies and better services for customers and the environment," Walters explained.
He also noted that support for struggling customers has been doubled, with more than two million households now accessing financial assistance. However, Mike Keil, chief executive of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), expressed concern, stating that complaints about bill affordability have nearly tripled in the past year. "Further bill rises will compound people's worries," he warned, adding that while people support investment in services, they demand tangible evidence that their money is being spent effectively.
Detailed Breakdown of Water and Sewage Bill Increases
The following list provides a comprehensive overview of the expected bill changes for various water companies across England and Wales, detailing the new annual amounts and percentage increases:
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%)
This detailed breakdown underscores the varied financial impact that households across different regions will experience, reflecting both the challenges and the necessary investments in the UK's water infrastructure.
