Water bills are expected to increase significantly for millions of homes in England following approved price hikes by five major providers that exceeded expectations.
The Anglian, Northumbrian, Southern, Wessex, and Southeast water companies had challenged the price increase limits initially established by the water regulator Ofwat, claiming that the cap on rate hikes was too restrictive.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has recently decided that the companies are allowed to collect an additional £556m from customers within the next five years.
Even though this amounts to just 21pc of the £2.7bn sought, it represents another financial blow to families already struggling – some could now be paying as much as £638 per year in water bills.
Although it's unfortunate that you can't switch to another water supplier, there are actions you can perform to reduce your expenses and ease the effect of these rate increases.
- Review your invoice: Are you being charged for the correct items?
- Five methods to lower your water expenses
- Receive compensation for low pressure, supply problems, and missed appointments
Reviewing your invoice: Are you being charged for the correct items?
Begin by verifying that you are being billed accurately. Your water bill should indicate whether you are on a metered or unmetered rate and list any fixed service fees.
Residential structures constructed after 1990 typically include a water meter, indicating that your utility bill will show the precise volume of water consumed by your home.
If your property doesn't have a water meter, your bill is calculated using the "rateable value" of your home — a number determined by the Government that takes into account where your home is located and its size. Since these values are frequently not up to date, it might result in certain households paying more than they should. If you believe your bill is incorrect, reach out to your service provider.
It's also crucial to review your bill for any unexpected rises in costs. This might suggest you have a water leak, so check for other indicators that support this, like moist areas.
Five methods to lower your water expenses
After reviewing your water bill, there are multiple additional methods to lower your expenses:
- Switch to a water meter
- Consider assessed billing
- Try water-saving products
- Check the WaterSure Scheme
- Don’t forget social tariffs
1. Transition to a water meter
If you haven't already obtained awater meter, it could be beneficial to have one installed. TheConsumer Water Council's (CCW) calculatorcould assist you in determining if installing a meter might actually reduce your household expenses.
This varies based on elements like your location, the number of people in your home, and your water consumption – including how often you take baths, flush the toilet, and operate the washing machine.
If you reside in England or Wales, you can request a water meter at no cost via your water provider's website or by calling them. However, if you are located in Scotland, you will need to pay for the installation of a water meter, which may come with a significant cost.
Keep in mind that some water providers have already finished, or are currently implementing, mandatory meter installation programs, so you might get a letter from your provider informing you that they are installing water meters in your neighborhood. If you don't want one,You might not have the ability to say no.
2. Consider assessed bills
If you have asked for a water meter but it cannot be installed in your house, or the cost is prohibitive, your water provider is required to give you an estimated charge. This implies that your water bill will be calculated using the average payments made by customers with meters, and thus should better represent your water consumption.
However, it doesn't always imply that your bill will be lower, and it can differ based on the approach the water provider employs. Typically, estimated billing is considered more cost-effective for smaller families.
Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown, stated: "It's frustrating that water companies don't use a consistent method, so you'll have to find out how each one handles it."
This might depend on the number of bedrooms you have, the kind of property, how many people reside there, or the typical metered bill in the region. You should review the method your water provider employs and then evaluate it against your current bill.
3. Try water-saving products
One of the main methods to lower your water expense is to consume less – especially if you have asmart meter.
Several water utility providers provide complimentary water conservation kits that can be requested via the internet, or you may purchase the items from other sources. Among the most efficient options are:
- Shower head regulator:This restricts the water flow without decreasing the water pressure, so you won't notice any change while showering. As stated by the Energy Saving Trust, an eco-shower head can save approximately 9,200 liters of water annually, or about £25.
- Install aerators or flow limiters:Installing a water aerator on your kitchen faucet can decrease the water flow without compromising the cleaning effectiveness. This can lead to saving approximately 5,000 liters of water (or £20) annually.
- Cistern displacement device:A large quantity of water is consumed each time a toilet is used. Installing a tank displacement device in your toilet tank helps decrease the volume of water used with each flush.
- Leak detection strips or tablets:Installing these in your toilet will ensure you receive a notification whenever a leak occurs, which can waste hundreds of liters of water daily if left undetected.
- Water butt: This will gather rainwater that you can utilize for watering your garden or cleaning your vehicle, instead of turning on your faucet.
- Plant water saving gel:Combining it with compost and thoroughly watering causes the crystals to expand into a gel, which retains water for your plant roots to access when necessary. This minimizes the frequency of watering required during dry periods.
- Shower timer: Keeping track of your shower time and limiting it to four minutes daily may save up to 17,000 liters of water, or approximately £45 annually, as reported by the Energy Saving Trust.
- Universal plugs: Leaving the faucets running while doing dishes can waste a significant amount of water; instead of using a dishwashing basin, a universal stopper is created to fit any sink and can assist in reducing your water consumption.
- Garden hose gun: This can assist you in managing the water flow while watering your garden – instead of water constantly escaping from the hose as long as the tap is open, you can regulate it so that water only comes out when needed. Hosepipe spray guns can consume up to 50% less water per use.
4. Verify the WaterSure program
Some families could be eligible for the national WaterSure program to lower their expenses, but you must be in a quite particular situation to take advantage of it, noted Ms. Coles.
She said, "You must use a significant amount of water—either for medical purposes or because you have three or more children under 19 who are in full-time education residing at home. You should have a water meter installed. Additionally, you need to be receiving specific benefits, such as Universal Credit and"pension credit.”
If you are eligible for the program, your water bill will have a maximum limit. This implies you will not pay more than the typical metered bill in your water provider's region, no matter how much you consume.
5. Don't overlook social rates
Each water provider has a social tariff program that may assist in lowering your bills if you have a low income. The level of assistance and the requirements for eligibility differ based on your service provider. You can review the available programs onthe CCW website, or contact your supplier for additional information.
Receive compensation for low pressure, supply problems, and missed appointments
Households may be eligible for a refund of as much as £2,000if their water provider does not adhere to the minimum service requirements outlined in the guaranteed standards program. These include:
- Persistent low water pressure
- Not providing at least 48 hours' notice for a scheduled water supply disruption that will last longer than four hours
- Failure to timely reinstate a water supply
- Floods caused by sewage inside and outside your house
- Missed or late appointments from your water provider, or adjustments to planned visits with less than 24 hours' warning
- Delays in handling grievances, requests for payment adjustments, or account-related inquiries.
Beginning in October 2025, this list has been updated to feature:
- Failure to reinstate a water supply within 48 hours after receiving a "do not drink" or "boil water" alert
- Failure to install a water meter within 8 weeks after a customer has requested it
- Failure to examine a water meter within 13 months
- Not adhering to the proper debt collection procedure prior to initiating action against a client
- Not providing the promised support via the Priority Service Register. This is a complimentary assistance program managed by all water, gas, and electricity providers to aid customers who might require additional help, possibly because of their age, medical conditions, or a disability.
In the majority of situations, you will receive your payment automatically. If this does not happen, you should address the matter directly with your water provider.
In conclusion, if you're having difficulty covering your water expenses, it's advisable to contact your service provider at the earliest opportunity. They might provide a payment plan to alleviate some of the financial strain you're experiencing.
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