One in five households struggled to pay their water bill over the past year, according to a new Citizens Advice report.
The survey reveals that of those facing difficulty, 42% have cut back on essentials like groceries and energy, while 35% are rationing water—cutting showers, flushing less often, and laundering clothes infrequently.
The pressure intensified in April, when average water bills rose by around £123 annually. This price hike triggered financial strain for about a third of those now finding it hard to keep up. Over 10% of households fell into arrears at some point in the year.
Citizens Advice is calling for a single social tariff to help low-income households, noting that current support varies wildly depending on where you live. Only a handful of people reported being told by their provider about options to reduce their bills.
