More than 27 million people are now affected by water-use restrictions as drought conditions grip large parts of the country, with Wessex Water becoming the latest supplier to announce a hosepipe ban for its 1.4 million customers from 18 August 2026.
For households already dealing with higher food, energy and housing costs, being told to conserve water while paying hundreds of pounds a year for it may be particularly frustrating.
But there is an important difference between your water supply and your water bill.
You cannot simply shop around and switch domestic water company in the way you can with broadband or insurance, but that does not mean you have to assume the figure on your latest bill is the lowest you can pay.
From social tariffs and WaterSure to water meters, assessed charges, free water-saving gadgets and charges that may be removable altogether, there are a surprising number of checks households can make.
MoneyMagpie quick check
Water UK says around 2.5 million households are expected to receive help with water bills in 2026/27, with an expected average discount of around 40% across affordability support. If money is tight, don’t assume you earn too much or aren’t eligible. Check.
How much is the average water bill in 2026?
The average combined water and sewerage bill in England and Wales is now £639 for 2026/27, according to Water UK.
That is an increase of £33 a year, or 5.4%, compared with the previous year, with the latest charges taking effect from 1 April 2026.
It works out at around £53.25 a month on average.
And it follows a much steeper increase the year before. Average bills rose from £480 in 2024/25 to £603 in 2025/26, an increase of around 26%.
Water UK publishes the full 2026/27 bill breakdown here.
£639 is only an average
Your actual bill could be considerably higher or lower depending on your water company, where you live, whether you have a meter and, for metered households, how much water you use.
Average water bills by company in 2026/27
| Water company | Average 2026/27 bill | Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Water | £759 | 8% |
| South West Water | £740 | 6% |
| Wessex Water | £695 | 3% |
| Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water | £683 | 5% |
| Anglian Water | £674 | 7% |
| United Utilities | £660 | 9% |
| Thames Water | £658 | 0.4% |
| Yorkshire Water | £636 | 6% |
| Hafren Dyfrdwy | £635 | 9% |
| Severn Trent | £587 | 10% |
| Northumbrian Water | £535 | 6% |
These are average combined water and wastewater bills published by Water UK. Individual household bills vary.
Why are there hosepipe bans if our bills have gone up?
It is an understandable question, particularly if you’re opening a £600-plus bill while being told you can’t use your hosepipe.
The summer of 2026 has placed heavy pressure on water supplies after prolonged dry weather and repeated spells of extreme heat.
By mid-August, water-use restrictions were affecting more than 27 million people, and Wessex Water announced its first hosepipe ban since the drought of 1976, covering around 1.4 million customers in Bath, Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire from 18 August.
Water bills, meanwhile, are being increased partly to fund a major programme of investment in water and wastewater infrastructure. Water UK says companies plan to invest around £20 billion during 2026/27 as part of a wider £104 billion programme running to 2030.
But a hosepipe ban does not automatically mean a cheaper bill
A temporary restriction on how you use water does not normally reduce your bill by itself. However, if you are metered, using less water can reduce the consumption element of what you pay.
First check: could you get a cheaper social tariff?
This should be one of the first checks for anyone finding their water bill difficult to afford.
Water companies offer social tariffs that can reduce bills for customers on lower incomes or in financial difficulty.
The awkward part is that eligibility varies by company. There is no single household income figure that applies to every supplier.
Depending on your provider, eligibility may take account of:
- your household income;
- whether you receive means-tested benefits;
- Council Tax support;
- the number of people in your household;
- your essential household spending; and
- other financial circumstances.
That means you should not assume being in work automatically rules you out.
Water UK says around 2.5 million households are expected to receive affordability support in 2026/27, with an expected average discount of around 40%.
Separately, previous CCW figures showed that almost two million customers receiving help specifically through water-company social tariffs saw their bills reduced by around £190 on average.
Don’t assume you won’t qualify
If you’re struggling, contact your water company and say:
“Can you check whether I qualify for your social tariff and every other affordability scheme you currently offer?”
Asking for a full affordability check is better than asking only whether you can pay your bill a few days later.
You can also use the Consumer Council for Water’s help with bills information to find support available from your supplier.
Could a water meter save you money?
If you don’t already have a meter, this is one of the most important water bill checks to make.
Unmetered bills are generally based on the property’s historic rateable value rather than how much water your household actually uses.
With a water meter, your actual water consumption becomes an important part of your bill.
One commonly used rule of thumb is to investigate a meter if there are fewer people living in your property than there are bedrooms.
For example, one person living in a three-bedroom house may use relatively little water but still be paying an unmetered charge based on the property.
Don’t guess whether a water meter is cheaper
Use the free CCW water meter calculator. It uses 2026/27 charges to estimate whether your household could be better off.
In many circumstances, households choosing to have a meter fitted can also change back to an unmetered charge within a set period if they decide it is not right for them, although exceptions apply. Check the specific rules with your supplier before switching.
What if your water company can’t install a meter?
Don’t assume that’s the end of the saving.
If you request a meter but your water company cannot reasonably install one, you may be able to move onto an assessed charge.
This estimates what you might have paid if your water consumption could have been metered.
It can be especially worth investigating if only one person lives in the property.
Ask this if a meter isn’t possible
“If you cannot fit a water meter at my property, can I have an assessed charge instead?”
WaterSure changed in 2026, so check your eligibility
This is particularly important this year.
The Government announced a major overhaul of WaterSure in March 2026, describing it as the biggest reform of the scheme in almost 30 years.
WaterSure caps water bills for certain low-income metered households that have unusually high essential water use.
The Government said the changes mean around 300,000 households will benefit from WaterSure.
Before the reforms, around 260,000 households were already benefiting and saving an average of approximately £325 each. Changes include expanding eligibility to include disability benefits, while many existing recipients are expected to see further savings.
You can read the Government’s WaterSure 2026 announcement here.
Who is WaterSure for?
Broadly, it helps some low-income households on a water meter that need to use significant amounts of water because of:
- a qualifying medical condition or disability-related need; or
- having three or more children living at home, subject to the scheme rules.
Eligibility rules matter, so check with your own water company rather than assuming you do or don’t qualify.
And if you investigated WaterSure in the past but were unsuccessful, check again under the 2026 rules.
Check whether you’re paying charges you shouldn’t be
Don’t just look at the total at the bottom of your bill.
Look at exactly what you’re being charged for.
Surface water drainage
Many bills include a charge for taking rainwater from your property into the public sewer system.
However, if your property’s surface water does not drain into the public sewer, for example because it drains entirely into a soakaway, you may be able to have the charge removed.
If you’re not sure, ask your water company how it has determined the charge.
Private drainage
Similarly, if your property uses a septic tank or another private drainage arrangement rather than the public sewer network, check that you are not paying wastewater charges for a service you don’t receive.
MoneyMagpie tip
Ask your supplier to explain every line of your bill. If a charge looks wrong, challenge it. If you’ve been incorrectly charged in previous years, ask whether a refund can be backdated.
Has your water bill suddenly jumped? Check for a leak
If you have a water meter and your bill unexpectedly shoots up, don’t automatically assume your household has simply used more water.
A leak could be responsible.
Things to investigate include:
- dripping taps;
- toilets that constantly trickle or refill;
- damp patches;
- outside pipework;
- unexplained changes in your meter reading; and
- a meter that appears to move while no water is being used.
If you discover a leak, contact your supplier quickly.
Some companies provide a leakage allowance that may reduce a high metered bill after an eligible leak is repaired.
Policies differ, so ask rather than assuming it will be applied automatically.
Get free water-saving gadgets before buying them
If the hosepipe ban has encouraged you to start saving water, don’t immediately spend money on water-saving equipment.
Your supplier may give you some of it for free.
Depending on the company and area, free products can include:
- water-efficient shower heads;
- shower timers;
- tap aerators;
- toilet cistern devices;
- leaky-loo detection strips; and
- garden water-saving products.
The Consumer Council for Water has information on finding free water-saving products.
If you’re on a meter, every litre matters
Reducing unnecessary water consumption can directly reduce the usage element of a metered bill, so free water-saving devices could be worth ordering even if each one only produces a relatively small saving.
Cut your water and energy bills at the same time
There is another type of water saving that’s particularly valuable: hot water.
If you don’t have a water meter, reducing the amount of cold water you use won’t normally reduce your water charge because you aren’t billed according to consumption.
But reducing hot-water use can still save money because you pay for the energy required to heat it.
Try:
- taking slightly shorter showers;
- repairing dripping hot taps;
- only running washing machines with full loads where appropriate;
- only running the dishwasher when full;
- avoiding leaving hot taps running unnecessarily; and
- using an efficient shower head where suitable.
If you’re on a water meter, these measures could potentially save you money on both your water and energy bills.
What if you simply can’t afford your water bill?
Contact your water company rather than simply cancelling your Direct Debit.
Tell them you’re struggling and ask them to assess you for all of their available affordability schemes.
Depending on your supplier and circumstances, help may include:
- a social tariff;
- WaterSure;
- hardship funds;
- debt-matching schemes;
- payment breaks;
- lower repayment arrangements;
- weekly or fortnightly payments;
- changing your payment date;
- debt support; and
- Water Direct in some circumstances.
What to say to your water company
“I’m struggling to afford my water bill. Please check me for your social tariff, WaterSure, hardship funds, debt schemes and any other affordability support I’m eligible for.”
You can find independent information through the Consumer Council for Water.
If you have several debts or are struggling with essential bills, consider getting free independent debt advice rather than borrowing to meet the payments.
Could you join the Priority Services Register?
Saving money isn’t the only form of help available.
Water companies operate free Priority Services for customers who may need extra assistance.
That can include people whose age, disability, medical circumstances or communication needs make an interruption to their water supply particularly difficult.
With drought and water restrictions making headlines this summer, it is worth checking that your supplier knows if somebody in your household would be particularly vulnerable during a loss of supply.
Are households getting enough help with water bills?
The amount of financial support available has increased considerably.
Water UK says an additional 300,000 households are expected to receive support in 2026/27, bringing the total to around 2.5 million households.
The industry expects the average discount across affordability support to be around 40%, with £4.1 billion of customer support committed over the period from 2025 to 2030.
However, the schemes available and eligibility criteria still vary between suppliers.
That is why the most useful response to the water bill increase is not simply to use less water.
Check whether you’re paying the right amount in the first place.
The 10-minute MoneyMagpie water bill MOT
Before your next water payment leaves your account, check these 10 things:
- Could I qualify for my water company’s social tariff?
- Would a water meter save me money?
- If a meter can’t be fitted, could I get an assessed charge?
- Could I qualify for WaterSure under the 2026 rules?
- Am I paying a surface water drainage charge unnecessarily?
- Am I paying for sewerage services I don’t receive?
- Has my metered water usage increased unexpectedly?
- Could I have a leak?
- Can I get free water-saving equipment?
- Does my supplier offer hardship, debt or payment support?
The MoneyMagpie verdict
Being asked to use less water while paying an average of £639 a year is understandably going to leave some households asking what they are getting for their money.
You can’t simply switch domestic water supplier and hunt for a cheaper tariff.
But that doesn’t mean you’re powerless.
Millions of households are receiving water bill support, while social tariffs, WaterSure, meters, assessed charges, leakage allowances and the removal of incorrect charges could all make a real difference in the right circumstances.
And with water restrictions spreading during August, now is a particularly good time to find your latest bill and spend ten minutes going through it.
The important thing is not to assume the amount on your bill is the only amount you could possibly pay.
Information checked: 17 August 2026
Water restrictions can change quickly. Always check your own water company’s latest rules before using a hosepipe. Financial support and eligibility also vary between companies and individual circumstances.
Water bill FAQs
What is the average water bill in 2026?
The average combined household water and sewerage bill in England and Wales is £639 for 2026/27, according to Water UK. That is £33, or 5.4%, higher than the previous year’s average.
Can I switch water company to get a cheaper bill?
Most domestic customers in England and Wales cannot choose a different water supplier simply to get a cheaper household tariff. Instead, check whether you could reduce your existing bill through a social tariff, WaterSure, a water meter, assessed charges or other support.
Can I get help paying my water bill?
Potentially. Water companies offer affordability support that can include social tariffs, WaterSure, hardship schemes, flexible payment plans, debt help and other assistance. Eligibility varies, so contact your supplier and ask for a full affordability assessment.
Would a water meter make my bill cheaper?
It depends on your household and current tariff. A meter may be particularly worth investigating when fewer people live in a property than there are bedrooms. Use the Consumer Council for Water’s water meter calculator before deciding.
What is WaterSure?
WaterSure is a scheme that can cap bills for certain low-income households with a water meter that need to use a high amount of water because of medical needs or family circumstances. The scheme was reformed in 2026, so households that previously didn’t qualify should check the current rules.
Does a hosepipe ban mean I get a water bill refund?
A hosepipe ban does not normally mean customers automatically receive a reduction in their water bill. However, metered customers who use less water during restrictions may see lower consumption charges.
Can I reduce my water bill if I live alone?
Possibly. If you have an unmetered bill, investigate whether a water meter could save you money. If a meter cannot be installed, ask your water company whether you could qualify for an assessed charge or single-occupier tariff where available.
What should I do if my metered water bill suddenly increases?
Compare your meter readings and investigate for leaks, including leaking toilets, dripping taps and pipework. If you find and repair an eligible leak, ask your water company whether it offers a leakage allowance.
