How much will YOUR water bills go up by this month? Search our map to reveal
MILLIONS of households have seen their water bills surge by up to 47% this week.
The average annual water and wastewater bill has increased by £123, taking it from £480 to £603 – a leap of around £10 per month.
However, for some, the increases have been significantly sharper – and this isn’t the only household bill to have surged this month.
The Sun is running an “Awful April” series to help you save.
For water, Southern Water customers faced the sharpest rise, with bills surging by a staggering £224 (47%), pushing the average yearly cost to £703.
Not far behind, Hafren Dyfrdwy bills jumped by 32%, from £447 a year to £590.
South West Water bills also rose from £520 a year to £686.
Plus, Thames Water households shouldered a 31% increase, while Yorkshire Water bills rose by 29% rise.
However, households supplied by SES Water actually saw their annual bills fall by £5 (-2%) from £254 a year to £249 at the beginning of the month.
The exact amount your bill has changed will depend on factors such as whether you have a water meter and how much water you use.
Water UK justified this year’s rises by citing an ambitious £104billion investment programme spanning the next seven years.
Between April 2025 to March 2026 alone, water companies are set to spend a record £20billion.
This funding will go towards building nine new reservoirs, upgrading 1,700 wastewater treatment plants to curb pollution, and improving over 15,000 kilometres of rivers.
Other projects include nine new water transfer schemes to secure supplies for the future.
What water bill help is available?
Struggling households can get up to £287 worth of water bill help to soften the blow of this year’s water bill hikes.
Social tariffs are available to hard-up households and cut costs by as much as 90%.
But how much help you can receive depends on where you live.
The most recent figures from Consumer Council for Water (CCW) show a £262 difference between the highest and lowest amount handed out in 2023/24.
That’s because each water company has its own criteria for these tariffs, and there is no standard eligibility.
Residential households can’t choose their water supplier, so it’s potluck regarding the generosity of your supplier.
For example, residents on Dwr Cymru (Welsh Water) social tariffs got a bill reduction of £287, the highest of any area in 2023/24.
Residents on Yorkshire Water got a reduction of £228, and United Utilities customers received bill help worth £225.
However, Portsmouth customers only got help worth £25.
Average water bill discounts available
HERE'S a full list of average water bill discounts provided by suppliers last year:
- Dwr Cymru (Welsh Water) – £287
- Yorkshire – £228
- United Utilities – £225
- Anglian – £182
- Thames – £176
- Severn Trent £- 164
- Wessex – £144
- Northumbrian – £137
- South West – £115
- Southern – £110
- Bristol – £99
- Essex and Suffolk – £92
- SES Water – £86
- Affinity – £77
- South East – £77
- Hafren Dyfrdwy – £76
- South Staffs – £71
- Cambridge – £58
- Portsmouth – £25
Most water suppliers offer grants to their most financially vulnerable customers.
These grants can provide significant relief, with some companies distributing hundreds of thousands of pounds in aid annually.
For instance, Thames Water’s Customer Assistance Fund can help clear your debt if you’re stuck.
Check with your supplier to see what they offer, particularly if you are experiencing extreme hardship due to terminal illness, bereavement, or domestic abuse.
Plus, if you have a water meter but struggle to conserve water due to a large family or medical condition, the WaterSure scheme can cap your bill at your supplier’s average household charge.
This could save you an average of £307 per year, although the exact amount varies by supplier.
To be eligible, you (or someone in your household) must receive certain benefits and either have three or more children under 19 in full-time education, or have a medical condition requiring extra water usage.
Get free water-saving gadgets
MANY water companies offer free water-saving devices, such as aerated shower heads, which can reduce water consumption without compromising performance.
The website savemoneysavewater.co.uk compiles everything available across suppliers.
You’ll need to complete a short survey about your water usage to determine which freebies you qualify for.