Water bills to rise by £7/yr but there are still ways you can cut costs - here are the details

According to industry body Water UK, the average yearly water bill in England and Wales will rise to £419 from an average of £412 last year. However, there is some variation across England and Wales, with some customers’ bills increasing by up to £35 a year, while some will fall by up to £31 a year. 

The rise comes as households continue to feel the squeeze of the cost of living crisis, with energy regulator Ofgem yesterday announcing a 54% hike in the energy price cap, and the Bank of England increasing base rates to 0.5%.

See our Cut your water bills guide for help reducing costs. 

Prices in England and Wales will vary depending on where you live

The table shows how average water and sewerage bills are set to change in England and Wales from April:

Water bills will rise by 4.2% in Scotland

In Scotland, water and sewerage prices depend on your council tax band and are covered by what's called a "combined service charge". Households in Scotland will see these water and waste charges increase by an average of 4.2% from April. You can find a full breakdown of the 2022/23 charges by council tax band on Scottish Water's website.

In Northern Ireland, there are no domestic water charges. 

You can save money on your water bill by getting a meter

Households are locked into using the water and sewerage company that supplies their area - you can't switch as you would do so with energy and broadband.

Despite this, there are still ways to save - some could save hundreds by switching to a free water meter, for example, rather than paying a fixed bill. See our Cut your water bills guide for more info. To get a water meter installed, head to your provider's website and see if you can apply – you'll usually need to fill in an application form – or give it a call and ask.

If you already have a water meter, double check your direct debit to make sure your usage is correct and you aren't overpaying. 

If you can't get a water meter, you can ask for an "assessed charge bill". This is worked out on details, such as how many people live in your home, but varies from company to company.

If you're having trouble paying your water bill and have fallen into debt, contact your water company to see what help it can offer. All companies offer some kind of support – this can be anything from providing repayment plans, discounts or even a cap on how much you pay.