Households could be as much as £225 worse off per year as water bills have just increased.
Southern Water customers are some of the worst impacted, followed by Thames Water and Anglian Water.
Your bill may differ from the mentioned average as the amount it comes to depends on whether you have a water meter or not and how much water you’ve used.
The listed charges relate to the period starting from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026.
Average water bill cost from different companies for 2025/26
Metered vs Unmetered
If your household has a water meter, you pay for what you use. It also implies that you have greater authority over your bill. You save money when you use less water.
In this case, your water usage is measured in cubic meters, and you will receive a bill every six months based on your meter readings.
For properties without water meters, the fixed water fee is determined by the property's "rateable value", which is an evaluation of the property's yearly rental worth.
And you will most likely pay each month, much like with council tax.
Thames Water: Charges around £639 per year
Thames Water customers on average are now paying £639 per year for water and sewerage, a 31 per cent increase from the previous year.
For metered customers, there is a fixed charge of £63.69 for clean water and £130.22 for waste water.
For unmetered customers, the number of bedrooms in your home determines how much Thames Water will charge for clean and waste water. It includes fixed fees of £128.83 (or £78.67 abated) for waste water and £62.88 for clean water. These pay for the company's basic operating expenses, such as processing bills and payments and maintaining pipes.
Thames Water covers most of Greater London, Luton, the Thames Valley, Surrey, Gloucestershire, north Wiltshire, far west Kent, and some other parts of England.
Southern Water: Charges around £703 per year
Southern Water has been hit with the worst hike, with bills up 47 per cent on average. Customers are now looking at £703 per year compared with £478 from the year before.
According to Southern Water, the two main causes of this increase are inflation and greater investment.
Southern Water covers East Kent, parts of Sussex, Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight.
Severn Trent: Charges around £556 per year
The average household bill for water and sewerage for Severn Trent customers is around £46.33 per month, equalling roughly £556 per year.
In the Severn Trent region, the typical household's combined water and sewerage cost has risen by 21.7 per cent. This increase includes all metered and unmetered customers.
More than 8 million people in the UK are served by Severn Trent Water, which provides water and waste services to a vast region that extends from the Bristol Channel to the Humber and from mid-Wales to the East Midlands.
Anglian Water: Charges around £626 per year
The average combined bill for water and sewerage services for Anglian Water has risen by 19 per cent, or around £1.72 per day to £626 per year.
Anglian Water recommends using its water use calculator if you would want a more precise estimate of how much water you use.
Anglian Water covers a wide region in the east of England, including portions of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, and Suffolk, and extending from the Humber to the Thames estuary and from Buckinghamshire to Lowestoft.
Northumbrian Water: Charges around £506 per year
Northumbrian Water customers are seeing an estimated average increase of £79, or 19 per cent, compared to the previous year, reaching an average of £506 per year.
2.7 million people in the northeast of England are served by Northumbrian Water, which supplies water and sewage services to rural areas in Northumberland and County Durham as well as Tyneside, Wearside, and Teesside.
Yorkshire Water: Charges around £602 per year
Yorkshire Water customers on average are paying £602 per year for their water bill. This is an increase of £135 (29 per cent) from the year before.
This amount will differ depending on if you’re a metered or unmetered customer, you can find out more here.
Yorkshire Water services West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, the East Riding of Yorkshire, part of North Lincolnshire, most of North Yorkshire and part of Derbyshire, in England.
Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water: Charges around £639 per year
The average water bill for Dŵr Cymru customers is £639 per year, a £136 increase from the year before.
Dŵr Cymru services most of Wales, Herefordshire, and parts of Deeside and Cheshire.
Wessex Water: Charges around £548 a year
Wessex Water customers are being charged £669 per year on average for their water bills. This is a 20 per cent increase from the year before.
A breakdown of all the charges can be found here.
The company provides water supply services to most of Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire.
United Utilities: Charges around £598 a year
The average water bill for United Utilities is £598 a year. This is a 23 per cent increase from the year before.
United Utilities provides water across the North West of England, encompassing areas like Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Manchester, and Merseyside.
Help if you’re struggling with your water bill
Get in touch with your water company and discuss the problems you’re facing and aim to negotiate a realistic payment offer.
If you’re in a vulnerable circumstance, such as you’ve reached state pension age, your water company should be able to provide extra support and you should be eligible for benefits.
If your mental health is being impacted by your financial difficulties, you should speak with your GP.
Alternatively, you can speak to a trained volunteer at organisations like Samaritans at 116 123.
