The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs is currently analysing public feedback on the consultation on its proposed reforms to the WaterSure support scheme which caps water bills for low-income customers who have high essential water use.
Defra received 63 responses to the consultation, which ran from 21 July 2025 to 1 September 2025.
WaterSure caps bills for low-income households on means-tested benefits who need to use high levels of water because they have either:
- a qualifying medical condition
- 3 or more children in the household
WaterSure caps the household’s water and sewerage bill at the amount of the average household water and sewerage bill in the water company’s area.
The consultation sought views on the following proposals:
- Extending the list of qualifying benefits to include non-means tested disability benefits for those claiming through a qualifying medical condition.
- Updating the WaterSure bill cap to the amount of the average metered or unmetered bill (whichever is lower).
- Capping bills for single occupiers at the average bill for a single occupier.
- Removing the option for water companies to require a medical practitioner’s note for health conditions not specifically listed in the WaterSure regulations.
- Specifically listing more potentially qualifying medical conditions.
Defra is currently analysing the feedback and expects to publish the summary of the responses and government response in early 2026.
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