Water bills to increase 2% as companies tackle leaks

The increase will see bills go up an average of £8 Credit: PA

The average water and sewerage bill in England and Wales will rise by 2% from April 1, industry body Water UK has announced.

The new charges will see the average bill increase by £8 to £415, although this will vary depending on the supplier and individual circumstances.

Water UK said companies would invest more than £8 billion in 2019-20 in the fifth year of a £44 billion spending commitment.

It said more than 370 million litres of water a day would be prevented from leaking from pipes over the five years to 2020, while companies are "on track" with a commitment over the same time-frame to help an extra 459,000 households who are struggling to pay.

Water UK chief executive Michael Roberts said: "We’re on course to see extra investment and a decade of falling bills, showing a water industry that is dynamic and passionate about delivering real benefits for customers, the environment and the country as a whole.

"The water industry’s record has been good over the past 30 years - cutting leakage, keeping bills affordable, improving water quality, and cleaning up rivers - but it’s clear that water companies have higher ambitions for the future of water with customers right at the heart of everything that they do.”

The Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) responded to the increase by calling on the industry to fund more financial assistance for low-income customers.

The watchdog said any increase would be unwelcome for struggling households faced with other rising living costs, and more could be done to help them.

Water bills to increase 2% as companies tackle leaks. Credit: PA

CCWater chief executive Tony Smith said: "Many customers will see their bills rise from April, largely due to inflation. Even just a small increase has the potential to hurt the three million households who tell us they struggle to afford their water bills.

"We’d like to see companies go further by dipping into their own pockets to help customers that are already feeling the pinch."

More than half a million low-income households receive subsidised water bills through customer-funded social tariffs.

But CCWater said the growth and impact of these schemes remains constrained by other customers’ willingness to fund them, with assistance currently reaching only about a quarter of those saying they need help.