The average annual water and sewerage bill in England and Wales is expected to increase by 6%, or £27, to £473 in April, according to trade body Water UK. Meanwhile, Scottish water and waste charges will rise by 8.8%, adding £36 to bills. The forecasts have drawn criticism from campaigners.
The planned increases come as water firms come under increased scrutiny over the dumping of sewage into rivers. However, firms say the hikes will allow them to invest record amounts in the future of the UK’s water supply and to reduce the amount of sewage in rivers and seas.
Actual individual bills can differ significantly owing to regional variations and usage levels for those on a meter. For example, Wessex Water and Anglian Water are at the top end of the scale, with average bills increasing to £548 and £529, respectively, whilst Northumbrian customers will see the lowest average bills of £422.
More than a million households in England and Wales receive cheaper bills through companies’ social tariff schemes, with around half of households in Scotland receiving financial support with water charges. Five water companies use some of their profits to fund social tariffs, with consumer groups calling for others to join them. Almost a fifth of households say they struggle to pay their water bill, and campaigners have urged companies to do all they can to protect those who are most in need of a helping hand
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