A new report from the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) has revealed that water companies are failing to win back customers’ trust amid deepening concerns over the fairness and affordability of water bills.

New research commissioned by Thames Water surveying 2,001 adults between 18 and 23 March, 2026 in London, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey and Wiltshire shows that almost a third of people do not know they could reduce their utility bills.

NI Water has announced new charges for the 2026/27 period for non-domestic customers - effective from 1st April 2026, water and sewerage charges are set to increase by 7.9% on average.

Anglian Water has reached a significant milestone with a record number of more than 500,000 customers now supported through its free Priority Services Register (PSR) – and the numbers are continung to rise.

Around 300,000 low‑income households will see lower water bills thanks to the biggest overhaul of WaterSure in nearly 30 years.

Household water bills in England and Wales will rise by an average of 5.4% - around £33 a year, or approximately £2.70 per month - from April, reflecting significant investment in upgrading water infrastructure. 

Yorkshire Water is on track to provide 250,000 customers with financial support by April this year, when it completes the first year of the water industry’s five-year AMP8 investment cycle.

The Board of Scottish Water has announced that household water and waste water bills will rise by an average of £42 per year from 1st April 2026 – an increase of around £3.50 a month.

Trust in water companies to deliver a range of activities may slowly be recovering, according to the latest cost of living report from Ofwat.

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.