A new wave of water bill rises has renewed calls for fairer and more consistent support for households struggling to pay.
Consumer groups warn that many customers are still reeling from last year’s unprecedented increase.
The Consumer Council for Water has repeated its demand for reform after Water UK confirmed the average water and sewerage bill will rise by around £33 or 5.4% from 1 April 2026.
This will take the typical annual bill to £639.
The increase marks the second year of a five-year programme of bill rises. The package is intended to fund major investment to improve services and clean up rivers, seas and lakes.
Not all households will be affected equally. Increases across the main water and sewerage companies range from 0.4% to 10%, with final bills shaped by factors such as metering status and water usage.
Concerns about affordability are rising sharply. CCW reports a 51% increase in complaints about water companies in 2025, driven largely by worries about bills and anger over the scale of last April’s increase.
Although water companies have expanded support for customers in difficulty, assistance remains inconsistent. Social tariff schemes vary widely between regions, creating what CCW describes as a postcode lottery.
As a result, where someone lives can matter more than their level of need. CCW warns that some companies risk failing to meet their public commitment to end water poverty by 2030.
CCW continues to call for a single social tariff for England and Wales. It says a universal scheme would deliver fairer and better targeted help for households living in water poverty.
Mike Keil, Chief Executive of CCW, said: “We’ve seen complaints brought to CCW about the affordability of water bills almost triple in the past year and further bill rises will compound people’s worries.
“code lottery of financial assistance created by existing water company social tariffs is unfair and unsustainable in the face of rising water bills.”
Households can take steps to reduce the impact of April’s increase. Around 2 million households received support through social tariffs last year, with average savings of around £190.
Customers may also benefit from switching to a water meter. Around a third of households in England and Wales remain unmetered and some could make significant savings.
Reducing hot water use can cut both water and energy bills. A family of four cutting daily shower times by two minutes could save just over £200 a year.
CCW is urging households to seek advice and check what support is available before the new charges take effect.
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