Average UK water bill by company (2025/26)
For 2025/26, the average household water and sewerage bill in England and Wales is £603 a year, up £123 (26%) on 2024/25. It ranges from £506 (Northumbrian Water) to £703 (Southern Water). Source: Water UK / Ofwat, published January 2025. Gera re-dates this annually.
Source: Water UK — Annual average bill changes 2025-2026 (echoed by Ofwat). As of . Updated annually · last updated .
Quick answer: the average household water + sewerage bill in England & Wales is £603/yr in 2025/26 (+26% on 2024/25). The cheapest is Northumbrian Water (£506) and the most expensive is Southern Water (£703). You cannot switch water company — it is set by where you live.
Average water bill by company, 2025/26
| Water company | 2025/26 bill | GWCI |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Water | £703 | 117 |
| South West Water | £686 | 114 |
| Wessex Water | £669 | 111 |
| Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water | £639 | 106 |
| Thames Water | £639 | 106 |
| Anglian Water | £626 | 104 |
| Yorkshire Water | £602 | 100 |
| United Utilities | £598 | 99 |
| Hafren Dyfrdwy | £590 | 98 |
| Severn Trent Water | £556 | 92 |
| Northumbrian Water | £506 | 84 |
| England & Wales average | £603 | 100 |
Figures are the average across each company’s household customers (water + sewerage), for the 11 appointed combined water and sewerage companies in England & Wales. Five smaller water-only companies (Affinity, Portsmouth, South East Water, South Staffs, SES Water) run several regional sub-tariffs and are not shown individually here. Source: Water UK — Annual average bill changes 2025-2026.
Check your water bill
Pick your water company and household to see how your bill compares to the published company average and the England & Wales average for 2025/26.
Estimated annual water + sewerage bill (Anglian Water)
£626
- Company average
- £626/yr
- England & Wales avg
- £603/yr
- Gera Water Cost Index
- 104 / 100
Anglian Water’s average bill is £23 above the England & Wales average (GWCI 104).
The company average is the real published 2025/26 figure. The household estimate applies an indicative usage multiplier (a rule of thumb, not a company figure) — your actual bill depends on metered usage, property band, and any social tariff. A metered home often pays less; check your supplier’s charges scheme for an exact figure.
UK water bills — frequently asked questions
What is the average water bill in the UK for 2025/26?
For 2025/26 the average household water and sewerage bill in England and Wales is £603 a year — up £123 (26%) on the 2024/25 average of £480. This is the average across all household customers; your own bill depends on your company, metered usage, property band, and any social tariff. Source: Water UK / Ofwat.
Which UK water company is the most and least expensive?
In 2025/26, Southern Water (South East England) has the highest average bill at £703 a year, and Northumbrian Water (North East England) the lowest at £506. Southern Water's 47% rise was the steepest. You cannot choose your water company — it is set by where you live. Source: Water UK / Ofwat, 2025/26.
Why did water bills go up so much in 2025?
Bills rose an average of 26% (£123) from April 2025 — the steepest increase since the water industry was privatised — following Ofwat's 2024 price review, which approved large company investment programmes for 2025–2030. The increase varies widely by company, from 19% to 47%. Source: Water UK / Ofwat.
What is the Gera Water Cost Index?
The Gera Water Cost Index (GWCI) re-expresses each company’s published 2025/26 average annual household water + sewerage bill as a ratio to the England & Wales average (£603), indexed so that 100 = the national average. GWCI = round(company average bill ÷ £603 × 100). A GWCI of 120 means the average bill in that company’s area is 20% above the national average; 84 means 16% below. It is computed only from the published figures shown on the page, so anyone can reproduce it. It does not adjust for usage, property band, or social tariffs — it compares published company averages, not individual bills.
Can I switch water company to get a cheaper bill?
No. Unlike energy, the household water market in England and Wales is not open to switching — your supplier is fixed by your address. You can lower your bill by getting a water meter if you use less than the rateable-value assumption, checking eligibility for a social tariff (e.g. WaterSure), and fixing leaks and high-use appliances.
Cut your home running costs
You can’t switch water company, but a fixed leak, an efficient appliance, or a water-saving install can lower your bill. Book a vetted GeraHome plumber to find and fix leaks, or fit water-efficient taps, showers and toilets.
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- UK trade cost guides — typical plumber, electrician and boiler-engineer prices.
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- Ofwat — average bills 2025/26 press statement — the regulator’s figures.
Method & sources
The Gera Water Cost Index (GWCI) re-expresses each company’s published 2025/26 average annual household water + sewerage bill as a ratio to the England & Wales average (£603), indexed so that 100 = the national average. GWCI = round(company average bill ÷ £603 × 100). A GWCI of 120 means the average bill in that company’s area is 20% above the national average; 84 means 16% below. It is computed only from the published figures shown on the page, so anyone can reproduce it. It does not adjust for usage, property band, or social tariffs — it compares published company averages, not individual bills.
Average annual household bills are published by Water UK (the industry body) and echoed by the regulator Ofwat. Reproduced here as public-interest reference figures; per-company numbers cross-verified against multiple independent republications on 2026-06-18.
Sources: Water UK — Annual average bill changes 2025-2026 · Ofwat — Average bills 2025/26 press statement. Fetched 2026-06-18. These are average bills, not individual bills — your bill depends on metered usage, property band and any social tariff.