Household water bills to rise by average 5.4%

HOUSEHOLD water bills across England and Wales will rise by an average of 5.4% from April, the industry has confirmed.

- JOSIE CLARKE

The increase - which equates to £33 a year for the average household - is two percentage points above inflation but comes as companies prepare to invest £20bn over 2026-27 to secure water supplies and end sewage entering rivers and seas, Water UK said.

There has been ongoing public anger about the amount of sewage being released into waterways, exacerbated by firms increasing bills to pay for upgrades after decades of underinvestment.

Ofwat has allowed water firms to put up bills by 36% between 2025 and 2030, with most of that - 20% or an average £86 - front-loaded on to last April’s annual rise.

There is significant regional variation in bill increases, with Severn Trent customers seeing a 10% increase, Sutton and East Surrey imposing an 11% increase, Bristol Water a 12% rise and Affinity Water (central region) customers warned they have a 13% jump coming.