The consumer body for water customers says urgent action is needed to protect cash-strapped households from soaring water bills.

The Consumer Council for Water (CCW) has warned many of the most financially vulnerable households will not be able to cope with a £123 (+26%) increase to the average household water and sewerage bill in England and Wales from 1 April. The rise was confirmed by Water UK and will take the average water and wastewater bill from £480 to £603.

Water UK says that more than 3 million households are to receive reduced bills as the industry body trumpeted record-breaking investment by water companies.

It says that water company investment of £20 billion in 2025-26 will “support economic growth, build more homes, secure our water supplies and end sewage entering our rivers and seas”, though acknowledged that customer bills will rise by about £10 a month from April 2025.

Photo credit: Cottonbro Studio

Read the Water UK blog on the industry’s affordability plans, and coverage by the BBC.

Average bills 2025/26 press statement – Ofwat

Covered in The Guardian