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UK Household Bills · Q2 2026 cap · Next change 27 May
Last verified 19 May 2026

WATER BILLS

Water Bill Calculator UK 2026-27

Calculate your water bill, compare metered vs unmetered costs, and discover how to save money on your water bills. Updated with the latest 2026-27 rates from all UK water companies.

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£639UK average bill /yr
17Water companies major
62%Households with meters
295Average daily use L/household

Meter vs Unmetered: Which Costs Less?

Compare both billing methods for your household

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UK Water Company Annual Bills 2026-27

All 17 major water companies plus water-only suppliers

UK water company annual bills, 2026-27
Company
2026-27
YoY change
Southern Water£759£55
South West Water£740£39
Wessex Water£695£17
Dŵr Cymru (Welsh Water)£683£31
Anglian Water£674£44
United Utilities£660£57
Thames Water£658£3
Yorkshire Water£636£34
Hafren Dyfrdwy£635£54
Severn Trent Water£587£52
Northumbrian Water£535£31
Essex and Suffolk Water (water only)£333£15
South East Water (water only)£324£14
Affinity Water (south east) (water only)£294£14
Affinity Water (east) (water only)£280£13
Affinity Water (central) (water only)£266£12
Bristol Water (water only)£264£12
SES Water (water only)£257£11
South Staffs Water (S. Staffs area) (water only)£230£10
South Staffs Water (Cambridge area) (water only)£210£9
Bournemouth Water (water only)£205£9
Portsmouth Water (water only)£162£7

Reduce Your Water Bill — Verified Measures

Simple changes that can cut your bill by 20-30%

💧

Water-efficient showerhead (6L/min)

easy
£75/yrannual saving

Upfront cost: £15. Saves 15m³ water annually.

Payback:2 months
💧

Dual-flush toilet conversion kit

easy
£45/yrannual saving

Upfront cost: £25. Saves 10m³ water annually.

Payback:7 months
💧

Tap aerators (kitchen & bathroom)

easy
£25/yrannual saving

Upfront cost: £8. Saves 5m³ water annually.

Payback:4 months
💧

Fix dripping taps and running toilets

medium
£85/yrannual saving

Upfront cost: £0. Saves 18m³ water annually.

Payback:Immediate
💧

Reduce shower time by 2 minutes

easy
£95/yrannual saving

Upfront cost: £0. Saves 20m³ water annually.

Payback:Immediate
💧

Run dishwasher/washing machine with full loads

easy
£35/yrannual saving

Upfront cost: £0. Saves 8m³ water annually.

Payback:Immediate
💧

Garden water butt (200L)

medium
£55/yrannual saving

Upfront cost: £45. Saves 12m³ water annually.

Payback:10 months
💧

Smart water meter monitoring

easy
£65/yrannual saving

Upfront cost: £0. Saves 14m³ water annually.

Payback:Immediate
🔧

Get FREE Water-Saving Kit

Save up to £230/year on your water bill

Most water companies provide free water-saving devices to help customers reduce their bills. These simple gadgets can cut your usage by 20-30% with minimal effort.

What you typically get:

Water-efficient showerhead
£75/year
Easy install
Tap aerators
£25/year
Screw-on fitting
Cistern displacement device
£45/year
2-minute install
Leak detection tablets
£85/year
Drop in cistern

How to get your free kit:

  1. Contact your water company customer services
  2. Ask for their "water efficiency" or "Get Water Fit" kit
  3. Usually delivered within 5-10 working days
  4. Install items yourself (instructions included)

Want more help?

Many companies offer free home visits where an expert will assess your property and install water-saving devices. They can also:

  • Check for leaks you might not notice
  • Recommend the best devices for your home
  • Show you how to read your water meter
  • Provide tailored water-saving advice
£75
Average annual saving
25%
Typical usage reduction
2 hours
Total installation time
🛡️

WaterSure: Bill Protection Scheme

Cap your water bill if you have a large family or medical condition

WaterSure is a bill cap scheme that limits how much metered customers pay for water, even if they use large amounts. It's designed for households that need extra water due to family size or medical conditions.

Who qualifies for WaterSure?

Large families:
  • 3 or more children under 19 living at home
  • Must receive Child Benefit or Child Tax Credit
  • No household income limit
  • Must have a water meter
Medical conditions that require extra water:
  • Dialysis treatment
  • Crohn's disease
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Ileostomy or colostomy
  • Incontinence
  • Desquamation skin condition

Documentation required: GP letter or hospital consultant confirmation required

How to apply:

1
Contact your water company

Call or visit their website - most have online application forms.

2
Complete application form

Available on company websites or by post.

3
Provide evidence of eligibility

Child Benefit letters, medical certificates, etc.

4
Company assesses within 21 days

They must respond within 21 days of receiving complete application.

5
Bill cap applied from next bill

Usually takes effect from your next quarterly bill.

Important details:

Annual renewal: Annual review required to maintain eligibility
UK households helped: 175,000 families
Must have meter: Only metered customers qualify
Backdating: Can apply up to 6 years retrospectively

Think you might qualify?

Don't assume you won't qualify - many families are surprised they're eligible. The application is free and water companies are legally required to consider it fairly.

2026-27 WaterSure bill caps by company:

Thames Water
£739/year
Southern Water
£759/year
South West Water
£740/year
Anglian Water
£674/year
United Utilities
£660/year
Yorkshire Water
£636/year
Severn Trent Water
£587/year
Wessex Water
£695/year
Northumbrian Water
£535/year
Dŵr Cymru (Welsh Water)
£683/year
SES Water
£456/year

Scottish Water Unmetered Charges 2026-27

By Council Tax band

Scottish Water unmetered charges 2026-27, by Council Tax band
Band
Water Supply
Waste Water Collection
Combined Services
A£234.24£200.64£434.88
B£273.12£234.24£507.36
C£312£267.84£579.84
D£351.12£301.2£652.32
E£429.12£368.16£797.28
F£507.36£434.88£942.24
G£585.36£501.84£1087.2
H£702£602.64£1304.64

Source: Scottish Water 2026-27 Unmetered Charges, effective 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. Figures shown to 2 decimal places as published.

⚖️

Problems with Your Water Company?

Free help from the Consumer Council for Water (CCW)

If you're having problems with your water company - whether it's billing errors, poor service, or disputes about charges - you don't have to accept it. The Consumer Council for Water (CCW)provides free, independent help to resolve water complaints.

How the complaints process works:

1
Contact your water company first
Usually within 10 working days

Try to resolve the issue directly with your water company

  • Call customer services or use online complaint form
  • Clearly explain the problem and what you want
  • Keep records of all communications
  • Ask for a complaint reference number
2
Escalate within the company
Within 20 working days total

If unsatisfied, ask for escalation to complaints team

  • Request escalation to senior complaints handler
  • Company must provide final response
  • You'll receive a "deadlock letter" if unresolved
  • This letter is needed for CCW referral
3
Free CCW investigation
Can take 3-6 months

Consumer Council for Water will investigate for free

  • Must have exhausted company complaints process
  • CCW investigates independently
  • Can recommend compensation up to £10,000
  • Companies must comply with CCW decisions

Common issues CCW helps with:

Billing problems
  • Incorrect bills or meter readings
  • Estimated bills when meter accessible
  • Standing charge disputes
  • Backdated charges
Service issues
  • Low water pressure
  • Supply interruptions
  • Water quality concerns
  • Sewerage problems
Customer service
  • Poor communication
  • Delayed responses
  • Rude or unhelpful staff
  • Appointment failures
Special schemes
  • WaterSure application refused
  • Social tariff denial
  • Priority services issues
  • Vulnerable customer support

What CCW can do for you:

🔍
Independent investigation

CCW investigates your complaint independently, with access to company records

💰
Recommend compensation

Can recommend payments up to £10,000 for poor service or errors

📝
Binding decisions

Water companies must comply with CCW recommendations

🛡️
Protect customers

Ensure companies follow regulations and treat customers fairly

CCW's track record:

95%
of complaints resolved
£2.1M
compensation secured (2025)
Free
service - no charges

Contact CCW:

📞
Phone

0300 034 2222

Mon-Fri 8am-6pm
🌐
Website

ccw.org.uk

Online complaint form available
✉️
Post

Consumer Council for Water

Victoria Square House, Victoria Square, Birmingham B2 4AJ
Remember: You must try to resolve issues with your water company first before CCW can help. Keep records of all communications.
Time limits: There are no strict time limits for water complaints, but it's best to complain as soon as possible after the problem occurs.
Emergency issues: For urgent problems (no water, sewerage backup), call your water company's 24-hour emergency line first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about UK water bills

Frequently Asked Questions

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