You're probably not alone if you've been wondering what exactly the average water bill is at the moment, and if it's increasing at all. Understanding water bills can be confusing at the best of times, so whenever we hear they're going up, it can leave us scratching our heads and wondering what we can do to get them back down.
Knowing what's what when it comes towater billsmight be something we're tempted to skip over; as far as we're concerned, we receive a bill based on our water usage and it's our job to pay it. But having sound awareness of the current average prices can stop you from overpaying, and help you make sense of your bill if you've noticed a sudden increase.
'UK residents have been given some respite with an extension of government aid in terms of energy bills, however, a rise in water bills comes into place in April 2023,' says James Longley, Managing Director,Utility Bidder. 'It is widely expected that water bills will see their biggest increase in 20 years - with annual bills for the average UK household going up by 7.5% in some cases.'
When you're the one paying the bill, it's only right that you have a good understanding of how your water bill is calculated, and why it's increasing. Knowing the average water bill can help us realise how much our actions around the house actually add up to, whether that's leaving the tap on while brushing our teeth, or staying in the shower longer than necessary.
Average water bill
So just like having a handyutility bills guide, it pays to know about the national average water bill, and where yours sits in relation to it. Our guide will also cover some useful tips and tricks to help keep your water bill down following the projected increase from April.
What is the average UK water bill per month?
According toWater UK, which represents and works the major water providers across the UK, the average water bill for the 2023/24 financial year is expected to increase to £448. This is an extra £31 compared to the previous year, which is the largest hike in almost two decades.
This means that the current average water bill per month from April will be £37.30 (equivalent to around 60p more each week).
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Brent Darby)
There is no single rate for water use across the UK. The amount households are billed depends on a number of factors so it’s important to realise that a household in one part of the country may find themselves paying a different amount than a similar-sized home in another region.
That said, individual water companies can look across their customer base as a whole and see roughly what the average household might pay.
'The average UK water bill is currently £448, which includes both the water (£215) and the sewerage (£233),' explains John Paul Drake, Energy Expert,Love Energy Savings. 'The former covers the cost of gathering, treating, cleaning, storing and distributing water to properties. The latter looks after building and maintaining sewer pipes, and sending cleaned and treated wastewater back into rivers and the sea.'
How are water bills calculated?
There are a number of factors which have an effect on how bills are calculated. Shona England-Lees fromYorkshire Waterexplains: ‘Customers with a water meter are charged based on the water they use, and customers without a meter are charged based on their property’s rateable value.’
Regan from Anglian Water explains: ‘If you have a meter, you pay for the amount of water you use. This is recorded on yourwater meterand we send you a bill for the amount of water you have used since your previous bill.
If you don't have a water meter, we calculate your bill using the rateable value of your home, which is based on differing factors including the size of your home and the number of rooms and your local amenities.’
Shona from Yorkshire Water adds: ‘Most water bills pay for clean and waste water services. That includes supplying clean water to the customer’s home, and taking waste water away. It also includes surface water and a standing charge which covers rainwater taken away by the public sewer and management of the account.’
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole)
How do companies determine the water rates in the UK?
Regan from Anglian Water explains: ‘Charges are regulated by Ofwat, who set rules that water companies must follow.Ofwat.gov.ukregulates the price, investment and service package that customers receive from each water company. This ensures consumers’ interests are balanced, alongside the need the company has to invest in maintenance, improvements and day-to-day delivery of water and sewerage services. As well as ensuring we protect the environment and plan for the future, too.’
The current spike reflects the inflationary impact of theenergy price capincrease that happened in October 2022. And though water prices are rising, they're still lower than inflation, which is good news.
What is the average water usage per month?
According to Water UK, the average person in the UK uses 142 litres of water a day. Remember, these figures are an average, and your personal water usage is influenced by a number of factors.
'An average family household uses about 500 litres of water every day,' says Thomas Goodman, Property Expert,MyJobQuote. 'That’s around 15,000 litres every month.'
Why is my water bill higher than usual?
If you're wondering 'why is my water bill higher than usual?' that could be down to many factors. ‘Usage, whether you have a water meter installed or not, or the rateable value of your home if you are unmetered,’ explains Regan from Anglian Water.
‘The amount you pay depends on a number of things,’ suggests Shona from Yorkshire Water. ‘For example, what type of bill you get (for instance, paperless), how much water you use, the services you pay for and whether you have a meter or not. We often find that customers can save money by switching to a meter. If you get a water meter and then change your mind, you have two years to switch back.’
Factors that could increase your monthly water bill
If you notice a jump in your average water bill it’s worth investigating what might be behind the increase. Some factors worth considering are:
- Warm weather– Are you having to water your garden with a hose/sprinkler? Have you been filling a paddling pool? Have you been taking more showers to cool down.
- Leaky or running toilet– Listen for a hissing sound that might point to a leaking cistern. One way of checking for a leak is to put a couple of drops of food colouring in the cistern tank. Wait for 10-15 mins and then check the toilet bowl for any signs of the coloured dye.
- House guests– More people at any one point staying at your house will inevitably lead to an increase in water consumption.
- A leak inside or outside your property– If you suspect a leak make sure there are no water-using appliances running and that nobody is running any taps, flushing the toilet, etc… Take a reading from your water meter (if you have one). Wait for 30 mins and then read the meter again. If the numbers have changed there is a good chance you might have a leak and you should get in touch with your water company to have it investigated.
(Image credit: Future PL/David Parmiter)
How can I reduce my water bill?
Just like there areways to save energyat home, there are some things you can do to reduce your average water bill.
‘We all need water and use it in so many ways around the home.’ says Brian Horne, Senior Insights & Analytics Consultant,Energy Saving Trust. ‘Through cooking, washing our hands, showering and bathing, the litres soon add up.
‘If you’re on a water meter, saving water can reduce your water bill,' adds Brian. Also reducing energy use, plus; 'reduce the impact on your local environment and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by using less energy to pump, heat and treat the water.’
Brian suggests the following tips to reduce your consumption and therefore, bills:
1. Reduce shower time
Keeping your shower time to just 4 minutes could save a four-person household £75 a year on their energy bills and a further £105 on their water bills if they have a water meter - £180 total saving for a four-person household.
2. Use machines at full capacity
Only run your dishwasher when it is full to reduce the amount of water you use, and only wash your clothes in your washing machine when you have a full load. Reducing your washing machine use by one run per week for a year could save you £10 a year on your energy bills and 12kg of CO2, equivalent to driving 43 miles – Edinburgh to Glasgow.
3. Put an aerator on your tap
Fit an aerator onto your existing kitchen tap to reduce the amount of water coming out without affecting its effectiveness. An aerator is a small gadget with tiny holes - they attach to the spout of taps and are cheap and easy to install. This could save you £14 on your annual energy bills and 65kg of CO2, equivalent to driving 230 miles – London to Bristol and back again.
4. Use a water-efficient showerhead
(Image credit: Methven)
Fitting a water efficient shower head could save a four-person household £35 a year on energy bills. And around £45 off water bills if they have a water meter. Or at the very least, learnhow to fix a leaky showerheadif yours is dripping.
5. Fill your washing up bowl
Using a bowl to wash up rather than a running tap can save you money on your energy and water bills if you have a water meter. You only need to run a typical tap for 95 seconds to fill a washing up bowl.
6. Turn dripping taps off
We've all heard this one before, and yet we're still guilty of leaving the taps on when they could be off. And how many times have you put up with a leaky tap when you can learnhow to fix a dripping tapwithin the space of an hour?
'A dripping tap can waste more than 5,500 litres of water a year, so make sure your taps are properly turned off and change washers promptly when taps start to drip’, says Brian. Learninghow to change a tap washeris another easy DIY job that can help reduce your average water bill.
FAQs
How much water does a 2 person household use UK?
'Based on normal activities with showers, washing machines and dishwashers factored in, a two-person household uses around 270 litres of water per day,' says property expert Thomas Goodman. 'With water and sewerage costs combined, this works out at around £500 per year. Those with water-saving devices and efficient appliances will use a bit less.'
'The average person in the UK uses around 145 litres of water per day - taking this total to nearer 290 litres for a two-person household,' says James from Utility Bidder. 'If we extend these averages to a 30-day month then you are looking at around 8,700 litres of water used per two-person household.'
How much water does a 20 minute shower use?
'Depending on the type of showerhead used, a typical shower will use 2.5 to 5 gallons of water per minute, and 40 to 50 gallons per 20-minute cycle', says James.
Cutting down your time in the shower is one of the easiest ways to lower your average water bill. 'The recommended maximum shower time is around 5-10 minutes, yet some people may take up to 20 minutes,' James says.
'This doesn't just stop at using the shower, but also extends to avoiding turning the shower on and leaving it to get warm while doing other things, or using it when cleaning instead of re-using water and cleaning products used across other bathroom areas,' says James Roberts, Director,Sanctuary Bathrooms.
A long, hot shower is a lovely thing to enjoy, but being just a little more strict and limiting these to say once a week, is something you'll thank yourself for when your next water bill comes.
FAQs
How do you calculate water consumption? ›
Your weight is one variable that changes the amount of water you should be drinking. To help you establish a baseline, you can use the following rule-of-thumb equation described in U.S. News & World Report. In short, the equation tells you to take half your body weight, and drink that amount in ounces of water.
Is it cheaper to have a water meter? ›Having a water meter means you only pay for the water you use. So, that could either mean significant savings for your household, or bigger bills. If you don't have a water meter, it means you pay a fixed price for your water. It doesn't matter how much water you use, your water bill won't change.
How much is a cubic meter of water? ›*A cubic meter is 1000 litres or 220 gallons - the equivalent of 12 washing machine cycles, 12 baths, or 28 showers.
How do you calculate water current rate? ›Distance (or length) divided by Time equals Rate.
Rate is the flow rate or speed of the water, using the unit “meters per second. “ For example: The object travels a 5 meter length of stream in 8 seconds. Divide 5 (length traveled) by 8 (time it took to travel the distance) for an answer of .
Household water use varies enormously depending on the number of people in a house and their personal needs. On average; A person uses 145 litres per day. 109 litres per property are lost through leakage every day.
How much is the average water bill in the US? ›The average American water bill is $45.44 per month. And Americans use an average of 82 gallons of water a day at home. The best way to see how much water you're using is to look at the breakdown of charges on your water bill.
Did water prices go up in California? ›More recent data confirms rising costs have only continued. A 2020 report from the California Environmental Protection Agency found that water rates in San Francisco rose 127% between 2010 and 2017.
What is the average utility bill in California? ›Monthly electric bills are a product of how much electricity you use per month and your electric rate. In California, the average monthly electric bill for residential customers is $218/month, which is calculated by multiplying the average monthly consumption by the average electric rate: 721 kWh * 30 ¢/kWh.
How can I save my water bill? ›- Turn Off the Tap. Are you washing money down the drain? ...
- Take Shorter Showers. Do you take showers instead of baths? ...
- Fix Leaks. ...
- Install Water-Saving Fixtures. ...
- Replace Inefficient Appliances. ...
- Start Composting. ...
- Change Your Dishwashing Habits. ...
- Improve Your Irrigation.
When is it a good idea to consider changing to a water meter? Changing to a water meter may benefit you if you don't use much water. It may also be worth changing to a meter if your property has a high rateable value. This is because some water bills are based on the rateable value of the property.
Can you remove water meter? ›
It is a contravention of the Water Act (as stated in section 175 of the Water Industry Act 1991) and can be a criminal offence to interfere with, wilfully damage or remove the meter. If you are convicted of doing any of these things you could face a large fine.
How much is 1 unit of water on a meter? ›A cubic metre equals 1,000 litres of water.
How many cubic meters of water does an average household use per month? ›According to Waterwise, for the year April 2019 – March 2020, the average amount of water usage in cubic meters in, a home of: one person - 66 (per year) two people - 110.
How do I calculate my water bill per cubic meter? ›Meters measure water use in cubic meter. To determine the amount of water used since your last reading, take the current meter read and subtract the previous meter read (from your water bill), which will give you the number of cubic meter/s used.
What is a rate of water? ›A water tariff (often called water rate in the United States and Canada) is a price assigned to water supplied by a public utility through a piped network to its customers. The term is also often applied to wastewater tariffs.
What is the rate of current? ›"The rate of flow of current in an electric circuit is called electric charge."
What is the formula for rate of change of current? ›Rate of change problems can generally be approached using the formula R = D/T, or rate of change equals the distance traveled divided by the time it takes to do so.
How much water does a 20 minute shower use? ›If a standard showerhead is fitted, it will use around an extra half a gallon each minute, accounting for a 25-gallon emittance every 10 minutes, or 50 gallons throughout a 20-minute shower.
How much water does an average household use a month? ›What is Average? The water industry estimates that an average person uses 3,000 gallons of water monthly, so a family of 4 would use 12,000 gallons for bathing, cooking, washing, recreation and watering.
How much water do you need for a month? ›Health authorities typically recommend a person drinks 64 ounces (or half a gallon) of water a day, and therefore a person should drink around 15 gallons per month.
How much does the average US household spend on water every year? ›
We can all use at least 20 percent less water by installing water-efficient fixtures and appliances. The average family spends more than $1,000 per year in water costs, but can save more than $380 annually from retrofitting with WaterSense labeled fixtures and ENERGY STAR certified appliances.
How is water bill calculated in USA? ›The average American uses 88 gallons of water a day, per the EPA. Multiply that by the number of people in your household. Then, multiply that by your provider's service rate and number of days in the billing cycle to get an idea of how much your water bill will cost each month.
How is water billed in the US? ›The most common units are centum cubic feet (CCF) and the gallon. A CCF also called an HCF (hundred cubic feet), represents one hundred cubic feet of water. The first "C" comes from the Roman word for hundred, "centum.” This is the most common unit used by both water and natural gas utilities.
How much does 1 gallon of water cost in California? ›Quantity charges vary based on the amount of water a customer actually uses in a month. 27 cents per day. and every time you turn on the tap. Through this system, we deliver 65 tons of water to the typical customer every month for about $0.007 per gallon.
Why is water so expensive now? ›Bottled water manufacturers must purchase the water, buy the plastic water bottles, and pay employees to get the water in those bottles. Then companies incur even more costs to transport those heavy plastic bottles filled with water to a store near you. Retailers then add a markup too.
Why is water so expensive in California? ›The soaring prices are a reflection of how quickly California's water crisis is escalating, with dire implications for food crops that are almost entirely reliant on irrigation.
How much should bills be per month? ›The typical California household spends an average of $2,649 per month on bills, the second highest among the 50 states.
How often do you pay water bill in California? ›All residential customers receive a bill every two months. For descriptions of fees and charges hover, tap, or click the parts of the bill you are interested in. Billing payment stub Return this section with your payment by mail or drop-off. Meter Size The size of your meter in inches.
Why are California utilities so expensive? ›So California's rising prices can be traced to higher energy procurement costs, increases in transmission, and most significantly, distribution costs.
What uses the most water on your water bill? ›The most common cause for a high water bill is running water from your toilet. A continuously running toilet can waste up to 200 gallons a day or more depending on the volume flow down the drain. This can cause a terrible increase to a family's typical water use, so fix toilet leaks as soon as possible.
Does saving water save money? ›
“Saving water is not only good for the environment, it is good for your bank account.” Many American households could curb their water use by almost 14 percent by fixing leaks. From running toilets to dripping faucets, tiny leaks can add up fast.
Does saving electricity save water? ›For every kilowatt saved, water also is saved. For every gallon of water not used, energy usage is reduced.
Do water meters lose accuracy over time? ›Over an extended period of time, typically more than 10 years, meters may wear and lose accuracy, typically to the advantage of the customer. The City may test water meters that appear to be wearing, and can rebuild or replace them as necessary.
Is water meter accurate? ›All meters are calibrated and tested in the factory before they are shipped. The American Water Works Association (AWWA) requires meters to be within 98.5 percent and 101.5 percent accuracy to be usable.
What is the disadvantage of water meter? ›Disadvantages of compulsory smart water meters: High installation costs: Smart water meters can be expensive to install, and some households may not be able to afford the upfront costs. This could disproportionately affect low-income households, leading to further inequalities.
Can I read my water meter remotely? ›A remote water meter reader is a device able to read and transmit wirelessly water meter readings. Meters generate pulses and the remote water meter actually does pulse counting.
Can I switch back from a water meter? ›Yes, if you've applied to switch to a water meter and change your mind within 24 months of the meter being fitted you can go back to being billed on an unmetered charge. If you choose to switch to a meter again in the future you will not be able to revert back to unmeasured chares again.
Can I switch back to unmetered water? ›If you find that a water meter isn't right for you, you can change back to unmetered charges. You must contact our team within 12 months of the meter being installed or within 30 days of your second bill to let us know that you want to change back to unmetered charges.
How much water does a shower use? ›The average shower lasts about eight minutes. Since the average showerhead has a water flow of 2.1 gallons per minute, each shower uses more than 16 gallons of water! Across the United States, we use more than one trillion gallons of water each year just for showering.
What is the best unit to measure water? ›Basic units of water measurement
For water that is in motion, cubic feet per second (cfs) is the unit of measure. For water that is stored or impounded, the acre-foot (af) is how water is measured.
How many gallons is one unit of water? ›
Each billing unit is 100 cubic feet of water which is equal to 748 gallons.
What uses the most water in a house? ›The largest use of household water is to flush the toilet, followed by taking showers and baths. Toilets account for nearly 30 percent of an average home's indoor water consumption. Older, inefficient toilets can use as much as three to six gallons per flush.
How much water should a 2 person household use? ›Still, no place is immune from drought, so it's important to be conservative with your water use at home, no matter where you live. On average in the US, water use at home (water from the tap, toilet, dishwasher, etc.) adds up to about 138 gallons per household per day, or 60 gallons per person per day.
How much water does it take to flush a toilet? ›Flush Facts
Recent advancements have allowed toilets to use 1.28 gallons per flush or less while still providing equal or superior performance. This is 20 percent less water than the current federal standard of 1.6 gallons per flush.
How to calculate water bill. To calculate a water bill, multiply the total gallons of water used by the price of the water per unit of gallon.
How much is water bill in Philippines? ›Water costs
The average monthly water bill is between Php 300 and Php 600, or between $5.93 and $11.86. The bulk of your utility bills will be incurred by other services, such as power and internet use.
Multiply the water flow per fixture by the minutes per day the fixture is used. Multiply the flow average for each appliance by the number of times the appliance is used each week. Don't forget to include the amount of time you use outdoor faucets each day.
How many gallons of water do I use a day? ›The average person uses 101.5 gallons of water Per day.
How many gallons of water does the average household use per month? ›What is Average? The water industry estimates that an average person uses 3,000 gallons of water monthly, so a family of 4 would use 12,000 gallons for bathing, cooking, washing, recreation and watering.
How do I calculate water flow rate in my home? ›- Turn on the water.
- Time how long it takes to fill the container using your stop watch or phone (in seconds).
- Divide 60 by the number of seconds it took to fill your container (ie. ...
- The result is the flow rate of that application in gallons per minute.
How much water does a 30 minute shower use? ›
On average, people use around 100 gallons of water during a 30 minute shower.
How much money is a gallon of water? ›Water is a bargain. The average price of water in the United States is about $1.50 for 1,000 gallons. At that price, a gallon of water costs less than one penny. How does that compare with one can of soft drink?
How many gallons of water are used per year in a typical home? ›The average American uses about 90 gallons of water each day in the home, and each American household uses approximately 107,000 gallons of water each year.
How many gallons of water does a 5 minute shower use? ›With a low-flow showerhead, you can expect to use about two gallons of water each minute, equating to 10 gallons over a 5-minute period. If a standard showerhead is fit, the shower will likely emit around an extra half gallon of water per minute, so a 5-minute shower will use in the region of 12.5 gallons.
How much water does a 2 person household use per day? ›On average in the US, water use at home (water from the tap, toilet, dishwasher, etc.) adds up to about 138 gallons per household per day, or 60 gallons per person per day.
How long will 500 gallons of water last? ›| How long would 500 gallons of water last your family? | ||
|---|---|---|
| # of family members | 1 gallon per day | 3 gallons per day |
| 1 | 500 days | 167 days |
| 2 | 250 days | 84 days |
| 3 | 167 days | 56 days |
If your home is newer than "1994" it probably was equipped with toilets using 1.6 gallons of water per flush. Available on the market now, are toilets which use 1.28 gallons per flush.
What is a normal residential water flow rate? ›The average household needs 100 to 120 gallons per person per day, and a flow rate of about 6 to 12 gallons per minute.
What is a typical water flow rate? ›How much water per minute does a faucet use? The average flow rate for faucets is between 1.0 gpm and 2.2 gpm. In the US, the maximum flow rate for kitchen and bathroom faucets is 2.2 gpm at 60 psi.
How many gallons per minute does a washing machine use? ›Shower: 1.5-3 GPM. Dishwasher: 2-4 GPM. Washing machine: 3-5 GPM.