Record investment as average household water bills rise £33 a year from April

Household water bills in England and Wales will rise by an average of 5.4% – around £33 a year, or approximately £2.70 per month – from April, reflecting significant investment in upgrading water infrastructure.

The rise is two percentage points above December’s official inflation figure.

Water companies are currently delivering a £104 billion investment programme in water supplies, with capital investment at record levels (up by more than a third in just two years).

The money raised by water bills can only be used to fund infrastructure that is independently determined to be new, necessary and value for money.

There is a money-back guarantee which means that if improvements are not delivered, customer bills will automatically be refunded by the regulator.

Household support

More than two million households currently receive help with their bills through social tariffs, the WaterSure scheme and other affordability measures – four times the number of broadband customers receiving financial support.

Another 300,000 households are expected to receive support in 2026-27, taking the total number to around 2.5 million.

The expected average discount will be around 40%. A total of £4.1 billion in support has been committed for the period 2025–2030.

David Henderson, Water UK Chief Executive, 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.

“While we urgently need investment in our water and sewage infrastructure, we know that for many this increase will be difficult. That is why we will help around 2.5 million households – more than ever before – with average discounts of around 40% off their water bill.”

Regional variation

Bills vary across England and Wales depending on geography, population and investment needs.

Regional breakdown of average household bills for 2026-27