- Consumer champions say Britons are already at breaking point with water bills
Two in five households will struggle to pay a predicted increase in water bills, the water watchdog has warned.
Regulator Ofwat has provisionally said bills will rise by an average of £19 a year (21 per cent) by 2030.
But water firms want to increase bills by as much as 84 per cent in the same timeframe, if Ofwat allows it.
A survey by the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) found 18 per cent of customers are already struggling to afford water bills.
Forty per cent said they would find it difficult to afford a bill increase of 21 per cent, let alone any higher.
Overflowing: Many households are already struggling and cannot afford further bill increases
Of that 40 per cent:
- 43 per cent said they would have to use less water
- 54 per cent said they would cut back on non-essential bills to afford water
- 38 per cent said they would spend less on essentials, like food shopping
The CCW surveyed 9,500 customers of 19 water companies.
CCW chief executive Mike Keil said: ‘It’s quite frightening the extent to which water affordability is going to affect people in the future.’
How to save money on water bills
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.
Getting a water meter is usually the best way of saving money on bills, for those that don’t use an above-average amount of water.
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.
The CCW has a calculator that helps you 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’ (the formula used to set estimated water bills), do not use much water or live alone.
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.
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.
Ways to save: Considering a water meter or seeing if they qualify for a social tariff are just some of the ways that households can try to reduce their water bills
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 where this costs more than 5 per cent of their net income.
Almost two million homes – or 15 per cent – are eligible for water social tariffs but not signed up to one, according to the CCW.
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.
They must also either have a water meter fitted, or be on a waiting list for one.
WaterSure provides discounts to both the 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.