Water arrears heading up - what can you do if you’re struggling with bills?

The amount that households owe to water suppliers has gone up in the last year. So what can you do if you’re falling behind on your water bills?

How much do households owe?

According to industry regulator Ofwat, the average value of debt among those in arrears now stands at £845.

That’s up from £734 a year earlier.

Figures also show that the total value of household arrears rose to £2.28bn in 2025-26.

Ofwat has described the figures as “concerning”, and suggested that customers in debt are, on average, falling further behind.

“These customers may be struggling to catch up and reduce the debt they owe,” the watchdog said.

Fewer water customers in arrears

While these figures are gloomy, there is possible glimmer of light - the actual number of people behind on their bills has come down.

In fact, the total number of current customers who are in arrears has fallen by 7% in the last year to 2.7m.

Ofwat believes this suggests water companies are “getting better at identifying and supporting customers who struggle to pay”.

But despite this, nearly one in ten (8.81%) current household customers are in arrears - and that’s far too many.

More than a third (34%) of the people who come to us for support are behind on their water bills.

And 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 almost twice what a typical household pays for water in a whole year.

What can I do if I’m struggling with water bills?

If you’re finding it hard to keep up with your water bills, contact your water company as soon as possible, ideally before you miss a payment rather than afterwards.

Every water company runs a social tariff, which is a cheaper bill for customers on a low income. 

Almost two 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 ask yours for more information.

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. 

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

Get debt advice

If you’re behind on your water bills, there’s a good chance you’re struggling to keep up with other bills too. 

In that case, it really 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 if 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.

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.

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 what to do about water arrears here.