The average water debt we're seeing is now £1,163

People coming to us for help with water bills owe an average of £1,163. That's up from £1,097 two years ago, and it's almost twice what a typical household pays for water in a whole year.

The average annual water bill in England and Wales is £639, so by the time most people talk to us about water, they're carrying close to two years' worth of charges.

And bills are going up again. Ofwat is considering plans that would let five water companies increase charges between 2027 and 2030 to fund an extra £3.4bn of investment, which means the households already behind are the ones facing more.

How much are people falling behind by?

Here's what we've seen over the past three years:

• 2023-24: £1,097
• 2024-25: £1,112
• 2025-26: £1,163

That's an increase of £66, or 6%, and it's been climbing steadily rather than jumping in one go.

You're far from alone if this sounds familiar. Around 2.85 million households in England and Wales are behind on their water bills, which works out at roughly one in ten, and between them they owe £2.12bn. There are also another 1.1 million people who've moved away from an old water company and still owe it money.

Why does water debt build up so quietly?

Water doesn't behave like other bills. It often doesn't arrive monthly, and your supply can't be switched off because you haven't paid. So it can slide down the list behind rent, energy and council tax, and it keeps growing while you deal with everything else.

Most people who fall behind don't have a repayment plan in place, which is a big part of why the amounts get so large before anyone asks for help.

Can your water be cut off?

No. Water companies in England and Wales aren't allowed to disconnect a household's supply over an unpaid bill, so that's one thing you don't need to worry about.

But the debt doesn't go away on its own. Your water company can pass the account to a debt collection agency, and it can take you to court. If a judge orders you to pay and you don't, that goes on your credit record and stays there for six years, which can make it harder to get a mortgage, a phone contract or a loan.

Find out more about water arrears here: What to do about water arrears

What help can you get from your water company?

More than most people realise, and a lot of it goes unclaimed.

Every water company runs a social tariff, which is a cheaper bill for customers on a low income. Almost 2 million households were on one last year and their bills came down by an average of £190. Each company sets its own rules about who qualifies, so the only way to know is to ask yours.

There's also WaterSure, which caps your bill at the average for your area if you're on a meter, claim certain benefits, and either have a large family or a medical condition that means you use more water, such as kidney disease or a skin condition that needs frequent washing. Around 260,800 households get it at the moment.

WaterDirect takes payments towards what you owe straight out of your benefits, so the debt comes down without you having to remember to pay it each month.

Plenty of companies also offer payment breaks, and some run matching schemes where they take a pound off your debt for every pound you pay.

Only around half of customers know any of this exists, which means a lot of people are paying the full amount when they might not have to.

Would a water meter bring your bill down?

It might, and it's one of the easier things to check. Almost 65% of homes already have a water meter, and if you've got more bedrooms than people living in your house, a meter often works out cheaper because you're paying for what you actually use rather than a fixed charge based on your property.

Unless you live somewhere meters are compulsory, you can try one for up to two years and switch back if you end up paying more. The Consumer Council for Water has a calculator that gives you an idea before you commit.

What to do if you're struggling

Contact your water company before you miss a payment rather than afterwards, because they can only put you on a social tariff or set up a payment plan if they know what's happening, and the earlier you tell them the more they can usually do.

If water is one of several bills you're behind on, it helps to look at everything together rather than tackling one debt at a time. We can go through your income and outgoings with you, check whether you're missing out on any benefits or support you're entitled to, and talk you through the options for dealing with what you owe. Speak to us and we'll work out where you stand.