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.