Cash-strapped households are being urged by the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) to stay one step ahead of rising water bills by taking advantage of untapped financial support.
With inflation levels at a six-year high, millions of consumers could see their water bills rise from 1 April when water companies are allowed to add RPI inflation to their 2018/19 charges - over and above the levels their price limits allow.
According to the water watchdog, that will heap more pressure on over 3 million households in England and Wales who already say they cannot afford their water bills - but CCWater says customers can take action now to dilute the impact.
Andy White, Senior Policy Manager at the Consumer Council for Water said:
“Many households will have a financial hangover after Christmas and we don’t want water bills to add to these worries.”
“Water companies have a wide range of schemes that can substantially ease the pressure on households that are feeling the pinch. With water bill increases in the pipeline, we’d urge struggling customers not to bury their head in the sand – now is the time to act.”
More than 330,000 low-income households have already sought help by signing up for water companies’ social tariff schemes, which can reduce bills by as much as 90 per cent.
Struggling households can also try to boost their income by using the benefits calculator and grants search tool on CCWater’s website. In the past two years the calculator has helped thousands of customers identify potential annual means-tested benefits totalling more than £9 million.
Ray Moulds, Sales Director at Flood Control International, takes a look at how automated sliding floodgates are supporting secondary containment at water and sewerage company sites.
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
ERG, the leading supplier of odour control systems and industrial gas cleaning & thermal systems, has been awarded the coveted King’s Award for Enterprise.
Welsh Water’s new artificial intelligence-driven tool, ORAI, has been shortlisted for three categories at the prestigious British Data Awards 2026 – underscoring the company’s commitment to using cutting-edge technology to deliver better outcome for customers.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.