Overview

• Citizens Advice reports that 21% of those who struggled to pay their bill in the past year fell into debt with their supplier.
• Households cutting back reported rationing water use, with many reducing showers, toilet flushes and laundry, and 42% cutting groceries and energy.
• Bills rose sharply from April with an average front‑loaded hike of about £86, taking the 2025–26 increase to roughly £123 or 26% once inflation is included.
• Water UK says companies are more than doubling help, proposing £4.1 billion in financial support over the next five years.
• The Consumer Council for Water logged a nine‑year high of 8,235 household complaints, and around 25 organisations have written to Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds backing a single national social tariff.