Complaints about Water Bills Skyrocket 50% in England and Wales as Customers Rebel Against Steep Price Hikes
A staggering surge in customer complaints has been reported to a government-sponsored body, highlighting growing discontent among consumers in England and Wales over steep increases in water bills. The Consumer Council for Water (CCW) received more than 16,000 complaints in 2025, up from 10,600 the previous year – a 50% rise that saw objections flood in every month from March onwards.
The spike in complaints coincides with a significant increase in water company bills, which rose by an average of 36% between 2025 and 2030. The largest hikes occurred last April, prompting widespread outrage among customers. Southern Water, Severn Trent, and Thames Water were found to have the most customer complaints per million customers.
Critics argue that these price increases are unsustainable for many households, with affordability being the primary concern. The CCW's chief executive, Mike Keil, echoed this sentiment, stating that customers need to see tangible improvements in services to justify the increased costs. To address this issue, the CCW is pushing for a lower "social tariff" across England and Wales to help poorer households.
Industry watchdogs have acknowledged the concerns, with Water UK pledging to double financial support available to struggling households over the next five years. However, some politicians remain unconvinced, calling for regulators to crack down on water companies' excessive pay packages. Labour MPs have accused Ofwat of failing to police water company pay disclosures, citing the need for greater transparency and accountability.
The controversy highlights the ongoing debate about the privatization of England's water supply system, which is unique among developed countries. As the next round of bill increases approaches, customers will be bracing themselves for further price hikes – and potentially more protests against the increasingly unaffordable cost of essential services.
A staggering surge in customer complaints has been reported to a government-sponsored body, highlighting growing discontent among consumers in England and Wales over steep increases in water bills. The Consumer Council for Water (CCW) received more than 16,000 complaints in 2025, up from 10,600 the previous year – a 50% rise that saw objections flood in every month from March onwards.
The spike in complaints coincides with a significant increase in water company bills, which rose by an average of 36% between 2025 and 2030. The largest hikes occurred last April, prompting widespread outrage among customers. Southern Water, Severn Trent, and Thames Water were found to have the most customer complaints per million customers.
Critics argue that these price increases are unsustainable for many households, with affordability being the primary concern. The CCW's chief executive, Mike Keil, echoed this sentiment, stating that customers need to see tangible improvements in services to justify the increased costs. To address this issue, the CCW is pushing for a lower "social tariff" across England and Wales to help poorer households.
Industry watchdogs have acknowledged the concerns, with Water UK pledging to double financial support available to struggling households over the next five years. However, some politicians remain unconvinced, calling for regulators to crack down on water companies' excessive pay packages. Labour MPs have accused Ofwat of failing to police water company pay disclosures, citing the need for greater transparency and accountability.
The controversy highlights the ongoing debate about the privatization of England's water supply system, which is unique among developed countries. As the next round of bill increases approaches, customers will be bracing themselves for further price hikes – and potentially more protests against the increasingly unaffordable cost of essential services.
! 50% increase in water bills is just not okay. What's even more messed up is that these companies are still making bank 
while people are struggling to make ends meet. It's like they're taking advantage of us, you know? And it's not just the amount, but also how it affects low-income families who already have limited resources. We need to take a stand and demand change 
. The government needs to step in and regulate these companies more tightly. Maybe we can even look into public ownership like some other countries do 
? It's time for us to hold these corporations accountable for their actions 
.
. It's all about affordability, you feel? Not everyone can take a 36% hike without struggling 
. Gotta get some real change going here 
. I mean, who doesn't hate a good 36% hike in their water bill? 
And don't even get me started on the pay packages for these water companies - it's like, hello, can we at least see some transparency here? 
water bills r like, insane in england & wales right now! 50% increase is just outrageous 
i mean cant we jus have affordable water without havin to break the bank every month?!? 
anyway, gotta give it to the CCW for at least tryna do somethin about it 
low social tariff is def a good idea, esp 4 poorer households who cant afford basic necessities 
. It's just not right when you're already struggling to make ends meet, and then they raise the prices even more. I think it's great that there's finally some attention being paid to this issue, though. The fact that the Consumer Council for Water is pushing for a lower "social tariff" across England and Wales is a good start - it would definitely help out those who are struggling to afford their bills.
I think we need to start asking some tough questions about how our services are being run.
i wish someone would do something about these water companies they're just making money off of people who need water the most 
is a big deal 
about the steep price hikes 
.
is a great one 
! It would really help poorer households 
and show that the companies care about those who need it most 
. And yeah, transparency and accountability are key 
, especially when it comes to pay packages 
! The privatization of water supply in England is still a topic of debate 
, but this just proves that people won't stand for unfair treatment 
. I hope the government takes this seriously and makes some changes soon 
. Water shouldn't be a luxury item 
, it's a basic need! 
. I don't think it's fair to say that customers are just being unreasonable, though some might be. It's like, the companies need to show us that they're actually providing better services for our hard-earned cash. 36% price hike is steep, even if you consider that water companies have costs too 
. And, what's up with the social tariff? It sounds like a Band-Aid solution to me 
. We need real change here, not just some token gesture to placate the masses 
... it's not fair that they're making bank while regular folks can't even afford to pay their bills 
. something needs to change ASAP 
. It's time for change to make sure everyone has access to clean water without breaking the bank 
