Households in England and Wales must splash out more as water bills rise again

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 2 min read 100% complete by Jasper JollyJanuary 29, 2026 at 01:01 AM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

Water bills in England and Wales will increase by an average of £33 per household in April, bringing the average annual bill to £639. This 5.4% rise, exceeding the rate of inflation, is intended to fund upgrades to infrastructure, including fixing leaks and improving sewage treatment. While some customers will see larger increases, such as those with United Utilities, others, like Thames Water customers, will see smaller increases. Water UK states the increased revenue is needed to secure water supplies and end sewage spills, while critics argue bill payers are unfairly burdened. Approximately 2.5 million households will receive discounted tariffs, but concerns remain about inconsistent support for low-income households across different water companies.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

London 40% River Action 50% James Wallace 50% David Henderson 50% Southern Water 50% United Utilities 50% Consumer Council for Water (CCW) ×260% Ofwat 60% Thames Water 60% Water UK ×370% Wales ×280% England ×280%

Keywords

water bills 100% water companies 70% sewage treatment 70% sewage spills 60% leaking pipes 60% ofwat 50% water uk 50% infrastructure upgrades 50% household bills 40% social tariffs 40%