Almost one in five UK households found it difficult to pay their water bills in the past year, according to new figures from Citizens Advice.
The charity's survey, carried out in August, revealed that 21% of those who struggled with payments ended up in debt to their water supplier. The findings come after the biggest single-year rise in household water charges since the industry was privatised in 1989 under the government of Margaret Thatcher.
The hike, announced in January, saw the average annual bill jump from under £500 to more than £600. Households have been particularly hard hit since April, when an average increase of £86 (around 20%) was front-loaded into the current financial year. Once inflation is added, the typical bill in 2025-26 is £123 higher, a rise of 26%.
Citizens Advice chief executive Dame Clare Moriarty said that "long overdue and much-needed investment in the water sector cannot come at the cost of higher bills that push low-income households into debt or impossible choices. Every winter, we hear of families turning off the heating. Now we anticipate those same households will have to ration showers or cut down on laundry for fear of their water bill."
The charity is calling for a single nationwide social tariff to support households on the lowest incomes. At present, eligibility for reduced bills depends on the supplier, which Citizens Advice describes as a "postcode lottery."
For anyone finding it difficult to keep up with essential household costs, help is available. Citizens Advice offers free guidance on paying bills and managing debt. The Government-backed Help for Households hub lists available cost-of-living support, while the Consumer Council for Water provides information on water company schemes and reductions.
The report comes as the Consumer Council for Water said household complaints about suppliers in England and Wales reached their highest levels in nine years, rising 3% in 2023-24.
