Household water costs in Wales to soar over next five years

Household water bills in Wales are set to rise significantly, becoming amongst the the highest in England and Wales over the next five years.

The increase follows a decision by industry regulator Ofwat, which has allowed companies to raise prices to fund infrastructure improvements.

Across England and Wales, the average bill will rise by 26%, or £123, in the next financial year alone, with further increases expected until 2030.

Welsh Water (Dŵr Cymru) has faced heavy criticism over service failures, including a burst pipe at Bryn Cowlyd Water Treatment Works in Dolgarrog, Conwy, which left 40,000 homes without water earlier this month.

The company has also issued boil water notices in the Rhondda Cynon Taf area and has been linked to some of the highest levels of sewage discharge in the UK.

Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change, Janet Finch-Saunders MS, condemned the price rises, saying: “This latest water bill hike from Dŵr Cymru is unacceptable, especially given its track record in Wales, with residents in Conwy earlier this month facing horrendous disruption and unable to access any clean water.”

She added: “With Wales experiencing four times as many sewage discharges proportionally as England, and water bills in Wales set to become the highest in England and Wales, it feels like they’re flushing our money down the drain.”

Water UK, which represents the industry, acknowledged that the bill increases would be difficult for many households but said companies would invest a record £20bn in 2025-26 to improve water and sewage systems.

David Henderson, Water UK Chief Executive, said:

“We understand that increasing bills is never welcome and, while we urgently need investment in our water and sewage infrastructure, we know that for many this increase will be difficult.

“This is why water companies are more than doubling the level of financial support, with £4.1 billion to be made available over the next five years.

“Water companies will invest a record £20 billion in 2025-26 to support economic growth, build more homes, secure our water supplies, and stop sewage entering our rivers and seas.”