Calls for ‘immediate relief’ for low-income families as water bills to rise by ‘staggering’ 6%

Among the suppliers raising prices the most include Wessex Water and Anglian Water with average bill to jump to £548 and £528, respectively.

At the lower end of the scale, customers of Northumbrian Water will have the lowest average bills of around £422.

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Regulatory concerns over the dividends paid by water firms to shareholders have arisen amid the rise in the cost of living, as well as public outrage over sewage overflows into rivers.

Despite the coming hike to bills, Water UK said costs were increasing less than they did in the previous year and cited they would be £60 higher today if bills have kept pace with inflation since 2014.

Revenue raised from higher water bills would go towards building 10 new reservoirs, repair 2,000km of pipes and increased support for low-income households, the organisation claimed.

David Henderson, the chief executive of Water UK, said: “Up and down the country customers will see the results of this investment with more than 2,000km of pipes being repaired or replaced and more capacity to treat sewage than ever before.

“At the same time support for customers is doubling with more than two million families now being with helped with their bills.

“Anyone with worries should contact their water company and, it is worth remembering, water companies will never cut anyone off or make them use a prepayment meter.”

David Black, the chief executive of industry Ofwat, noted the “real worry” over rising water bills but said costs would jump by only £2.30 a month.

The Consumer Council for Water’s chief executive Mike Keil cited that a fifth of households find it difficult to pay off their water bills and immediate relief is needed.

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Mr Keil said: “The water industry made a commitment five years ago to end water poverty in England and Wales and it needs to keep that promise.

“Crisis-hit households need immediate relief and the long-term security of knowing they can afford something as essential as water, without having to make painful sacrifices.”

Robbie Moore MP, the Government’s Water minister said: “We expect water companies to put robust support in place for customers that are struggling to pay their bills, including bill discount schemes and adjusted payment plans.

“We are also working closely with regulators to hold companies to account for poor performance, driving better outcomes for both customers and the environment.”

In response, Shadow environment secretary Steve Reed said: “This Conservative government has wilfully turned a blind eye to corruption at the heart of the water industry, leaving stinking, toxic sewage to ruin our countryside.

“It is staggering that water bosses are lining their pockets with millions in bonuses, while asking consumers to foot the bill.”