Overview

• Ofwat projects average household water bills could climb to £2,000 annually by 2050, including inflation, due to essential investment in ageing infrastructure and environmental improvements.
• The average water bill rose 26% in 2025 to £603, with some suppliers like Southern Water increasing charges by up to 47%.
• Regulator Ofwat highlights the risk of water shortages without sustained investment, alongside the financial burden on consumers.
• Money-saving expert Matthew Sheeran advises households to explore social tariffs, which can reduce bills by up to 90%, and adopt water-saving measures such as fixing leaks and installing meters.
• Consumer advocacy groups and MPs criticize decades of underinvestment and call for systemic reforms to ensure polluters bear the cost of environmental damage.