Public anger towards water companies has grown over the past few years due to the amount of sewage released into the UK’s waterways, exacerbated by firms increasing bills to pay for upgrades.
After decades of underinvestment, £20 billion will be invested over 2026-27 to secure water supplies and end sewage entering rivers and seas, according to Water UK.
Ofwat has allowed water firms to raise bills by 36% between 2025 and 2030, the majority of which was front-loaded on to last April’s rise.
The Consumer Council for Water (CCW) said it had seen a 51% increase in complaints about water companies in 2025, with concerns over affordability and the scale of last April’s increase.
CCW chief executive Mike Keil 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.
People support investment in improving services, but they are impatient for change and need to see compelling evidence their money is being well spent.
A stronger safety net is also needed for those who simply can’t afford these bill rises.
The size of this April’s increase and the cost of the average bill vary widely across different regions, with Sutton and East Surrey seeing an 11% increase, Bristol Water a 12% rise and Affinity Water’s central region having a hike of 13%.
South East Water is raising bills by 7% while being scrutinised for repeated supply failures across Sussex and Kent.
Ofwat are investigating after 30,000 properties earlier this month, which the company blamed on Storm Goretti causing burst pipes and a power cut at a pumping plant.
Industry trade body Water UK said that while the increases would be difficult for many, they are necessary to fund investment in water and sewage infrastructure.
Water UK chief executive David Henderson said: “We understand increasing bills is never welcome, but the money is needed to fund vital upgrades to secure our water supplies, support economic growth and end sewage entering our rivers and seas.”
Regulator Ofwat will monitor companies’ performance and hold them to account, saying: “If they do not deliver on their commitments, they will be made to return money to customers in their future bills.”
Ofwat interim chief executive Chris Walters added: “By April 2027 we are expecting water companies to have installed more than eight million water meters in homes to help customers manage their bills, to have replaced almost 3,000km of piping that will ensure customers experience fewer supply disruptions, and reduce sewage spills from storm overflows by 30% from 2024 levels.
These are just three examples that will help us reach our collective goal of cleaner rivers and seas, more resilient water supplies and better services for customers and the environment.
However, we also recognise that these bill increases may be difficult for some people. That is why we approved a doubling of company support available for customers who are struggling to pay and now more than two million households are accessing this help.
Campaign manager at Surfers Against Sewage Rob Abrams said: “Water isn’t a commodity. It’s a necessity. Yet it’s being milked for profit while sewage is pumped into our waters.
This broken system rewards greed and failure, and the only solution is a full system reset to put people and planet first. Nothing less will do.
Here is a full list of the increase in average water bills in 2026/27 for households in England and Wales, as published by Water UK:
Affinity Water, central region (water-only): £266; up £31 (+13%)
Affinity Water, eastern region (water-only): £280; up £1 (+0.4%)
Affinity Water, south-east region (water-only): £294; up £3 (+1%)
Anglian Water (water & wastewater): £674; up £44 (+7%)
Bournemouth Water (water-only): £205; up £11 (+6%)
Bristol Water (water-only): £264; up £29 (+12%)
Dwr Cymru (water & wastewater): £683; up £31 (+5%)
Essex & Suffolk Water (water-only): £333; up £15 (+5%)
Hafren Dyfrdwy (water & wastewater): £635; up £54 (+9%)
Northumbrian Water (water & wastewater): £535; up £31 (+6%)
Portsmouth Water (water-only): £162; up £13 (+8%)
Severn Trent Water (water & wastewater): £587; up £52 (+10%)
South East Water (water-only): £324; up £21 (+7%)
South Staffs Water, Cambridge region (water-only): up £210; £7 (+3%)
South Staffs Water, South Staffordshire region (water-only): up £230; £6 (+2%)
South West Water (water & wastewater): £740; up £39 (+6%)
Southern Water (water & wastewater): £759; up £55 (+8%)
Sutton & East Surrey Water (water-only): £257; up £26 (+11%)
Thames Water (water & wastewater): £658; up £3 (+0.4%)
United Utilities (water & wastewater): £660; up £57 (+9%)
Wessex Water (water & wastewater): £695; up £17 (+3%)
Yorkshire Water (water & wastewater): £636; up £34 (+6%)
Water bills across the country will rise by an average of 5.4% from April, the industry has confirmed.
The average annual bill will go up by £33 a year to £639, just a year on from large increases in many parts of the country, with many rising by £10 a month.