Image description: Aerial view of water treatment works. Image by Tom Fisk / Pexels.

Dwr Cymru Welsh Water has reported an £8m loss for the past financial year, despite a £46m profit the year before.

The Water company said it had invested a record £629m in its water and wastewater network in 2024-25, and claimed this was a 31% year-on-year increase to maintain and improve its assets.

These projects include replacing the treatment process at Cardigan Wastewater Treatment Works, improving its sites at Eign and Rotherwas in Hereford, upgrading the wastewater network within Usk, increasing capacity at Bangor Beach Road wastewater pumping station and investment to renew and upgrade the water network at Trap and Llandyfan in Carmarthenshire.

In April, water bills for households rose by 27% for Welsh Water customers, meaning an average annual bill increased from £503 to £639. A record 153,000 customers were supported via financial assistance schemes to pay their water bills. The company said that increase would help fund future investment, with bills expected to rise annually for the next five years.