The average household water bill will go up by 6 per cent from April, or £27 a year.
Trade body Water UK today said the increase means the typical yearly water and sewerage bill will be £473.
The industry has defended the hikes by saying that water firms need to improve infrastructure following public backlash against water shortages and cases of sewage pumped into rivers.
But the news of the bill rises has sparked outcry from the Consumer Council for Water.
Steep rise: The typical water bill is going up £27 this year to £473, having risen since 2020/21
CCW chief executive Mike Keil said: ‘Almost a fifth of households say they struggle to pay their water bill, and these rises will heap even greater pressure on low-income customers.
‘If water companies are serious about rebuilding trust in the sector they should use some of their profits to help people who cannot afford another bill rise.’
Here are some of the main ways to save money on your water bill, from considering a water meter to checking if you are eligible for a cheaper social tariff.
How to save money on water
Consider a water meter
Around 40 per cent of households in England and Wales not do not have a water meter, and some of these would save money on water bills by getting one fitted.
Not everyone will save with a meter, but water companies will usually give you two years to trial one and allow you to switch back if you are unhappy.
Water firms do not have to agree to fit a water meter, for example if doing so would be costly or counterproductive, such as if multiple residences share water pipes.
Meanwhile, in other areas, having one is compulsory if the water company requests it.
The CCW has a calculator that helps understand if a water meter could save you money.
However, the rule of thumb is that a water bill could lower your bills if you live in a property with a high ‘rateable value’ (used to set estimated water bills), do not use much water and/or live alone.
On the clock: Water meters can save you money, but equally might cost you more too
Use less water if you can
If you have a water meter fitted, using less water means paying lower bills.
Water bills for homes with these meters are made up of fees for water used, as well as daily standing charges.
But using less water also means lower energy bills, as much of the water homes use is heated first.
CCW figures show that if every person in a family of four reduced their daily shower time by two minutes, they could save around £280 a year in water and energy combined costs.
Fix leaks
Likewise, fixing leaks early can save you money on water bills – if you have a meter fitted.
Signs of a water leak include the obvious – drips, dampness, walls, floors and ceilings changing colour, mould and a musty smell.
But some water leaks can be harder to spot. For example, wet patches or greener spots in your garden can indicate a water leak from an underground pipe.
Likewise, low boiler pressure can indicate a leak in your hot water system.
Check if you are eligible for a social tariff
Every water company in England and Wales has its own social tariff scheme designed to help customers on a low income.
But who is eligible and the level of support offered varies hugely from company to company. In some instances, bills can be reduced by as much as 90 per cent.
CCW has a list of social tariffs and criteria on its website.
For example, Thames Water’s social tariff is called Water Help.
It cuts water bills by 50 per cent for homes whose household income is less than £17,005, or £21,749 in London, excluding disability benefits.
But almost two million homes – or 15 per cent – are eligible for water social tariffs but not signed up to one, according to the CCW.
Five water companies use their own profits to help offer cheaper tariffs.
These are Welsh Water, Severn Trent, Yorkshire Water, SES Water and United Utilities.
Consider the WaterSure scheme
WaterSure is a Government programme run by water firms to discount bills for qualifying households in England and Wales.
To qualify, a household must be on certain benefits, such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
Most of the benefits on the list are for those on low incomes.
A household signing up to WaterSure will also need large amounts of water, either for medical reasons or because it has a lot of young children.
Another criterium is to either have a water meter fitted or be on a waiting list for one.
WaterSure provides discounts to both water and sewerage parts of a water bill.
To apply, you will need to fill in a form from your water company, and will likely need to prove you are on benefits and have a qualifying medical condition.
Consider water-saving gadgets
Many devices that help save water and money are handed out for free by water firms, though this does depend on where you live.
These widgets include water-saving shower heads, water butts and so on.
To find out what you can get, put your postcode into the Save Water Save Money website.
