Water Bill Increase in England and Wales: Average Monthly Rise of £10

Households in England and Wales are set to face an average annual increase of £123 in their water bills, with the total amounting to £603 starting in April. Southern Water customers will bear the highest increase at 47%, resulting in an average bill of £703. Other companies such as Thames Water and Hafren Dyfrdwy will also observe increases of 31% and 32%, respectively. The Consumer Council for Water has cautioned that these bill hikes may lead to more households falling into debt, with around 2.5 million households already indebted to their water providers. While water companies plan to invest over £20 billion in infrastructure upgrades, company executives acknowledge the financial challenges that rising bills pose for many customers.