Water Bills Just Went Up: 7 Ways to Cut Yours

Water bills in England and Wales are rising by an average of 5.4% from April 2026: that's £33 more per year, taking the average annual bill to £639. Some regions are seeing increases of up to 13%. Unlike energy, you can't switch water supplier. But there are plenty of ways to cut your bill, challenge overcharging, and claim discounts most people don't know about.

How Much Is Yours Going Up?

The increase varies significantly by region:

• Affinity Water (central region): Up 13%
• Severn Trent: Up 10%
• Bristol Water: Up 12%
• Thames Water: Up 5%
• Anglian Water: Up 7%
• United Utilities: Up 6%
• Yorkshire Water: Up 5%

Check your supplier's website for your exact increase, or look at your April 2026 bill when it arrives.

7 Ways to Cut Your Water Bill

1. Get a Water Meter

This is the single biggest potential saving. If your home has more bedrooms than people (a couple in a 3-bed house, for example), a meter almost always saves money. Only 12% of English homes currently have smart water meters.

Your supplier must install a meter for free if you request one. You get a 2-year trial period: if your bill goes up, you can switch back to unmetered billing within the first 24 months.

2. Check for Surface Water Drainage Errors

This is the most common billing error and it's worth checking. Your water bill includes a charge for surface water drainage: the rainwater that runs off your property into public drains. If your property has a soakaway, drains into a ditch, or doesn't connect to the public sewer system, you shouldn't be paying this charge.

Estimates suggest up to 1 in 5 properties may be incorrectly charged for surface water drainage. If you've been overpaying, you can claim back up to 6 years of overpayments.

3. Apply for a Social Tariff

Over 2 million households already receive reduced water bills through social tariffs, the WaterSure scheme, and other affordability programmes. Discounts are typically around 40% off your bill.

You may qualify if:

• You receive means-tested benefits (Universal Credit, Pension Credit, etc.)
• You have a medical condition requiring high water use
• You have 3 or more children under 19 living at home (WaterSure)
• Your household income is below a certain threshold (varies by supplier)

From 2026, disability benefits are being added to the eligibility criteria, expanding access to an estimated 53,000–300,000 additional households.

The catch: Support varies by supplier and is described by consumer groups as a "postcode lottery." Check your supplier's website for their specific affordability schemes.

4. Reduce Your Usage

The maths is simple: less water used = lower metered bills.

• 5-minute showers instead of baths could save up to £280 per year (yes, really: baths use around 80 litres, while a 5-minute shower uses about 40)
• Fix dripping taps - a dripping tap wastes up to 5,500 litres per year
• Only run full loads in washing machines and dishwashers
• Use a water butt for garden watering

5. Challenge Back-Billing

Water companies sometimes send bills for water used years ago. Under back-billing rules, your supplier generally cannot charge you for water used more than 12 months ago if the delay was their fault (for example, they failed to read your meter).

If you receive a large back-bill, challenge it. Ask:

• When was the meter last read?
• Why wasn't a bill sent sooner?
• Does the back-billing protection apply?

6. Check Your Rateable Value

If you're on an unmetered supply, your bill is based on your property's rateable value, a figure set in 1990. If your rateable value is wrong (surprisingly common, especially if your property has been converted or reduced in size), your bills could be higher than they should be.

Contact the Valuation Office Agency to check and challenge your rateable value.

7. Complain About Service Failures

You may be entitled to automatic payments (known as GSS payments) if your water company:

• Fails to keep an appointment (£20)
• Doesn't respond to a complaint within 10 working days (£20)
• Interrupts your supply without notice (£20 per day)
• Floods your property with sewage (£150–£1,000+)

These payments are automatic in theory, but in practice you often need to chase them. Keep records of any service failures and claim what you're owed.

When to Escalate

If your water company won't resolve a billing dispute or complaint:

1. Complain formally in writing to the company (keep a copy)
2. Wait 8 weeks for a response (or get a "deadlock letter" if they say they can't help)
3. Escalate to the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) - they mediate water complaints for free
4. If CCW can't resolve it, escalate to WATRS (Water Redress Scheme), the water industry's ADR scheme

What You Can't Do

Unlike energy, you cannot switch water supplier. Your supplier is determined by your postcode. This makes it even more important to check you're on the right tariff, challenge any errors, and claim every discount you're entitled to.

Use our Water Bill Overcharging Checker to review your bill and identify potential savings.