Yorkshire Water confirms bill hike to fund repairs

In April, the average household water bill will rise by 5.6 per cent – about £2.80 per month – as part of an £8.3bn investment programme approved by Ofwat in December 2024.

Individual bill changes will vary depending on customers’ specific charges.

Yorkshire Water says the rise means it will be able to continue to deliver infrastructure projects across the region, totalling £1.1bn during the next year until April 2027.

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Projects include progressing a £38m plan for reducing leakage, replacing 353km of mains to reduce bursts and instances of water supply disruptions, and exchanging 350,000 smart meters to help customers save water and reduce their bills.

Multimillion pound projects at Haxby Walbutts wastewater treatment works and Naburn wastewater treatment works will start in the spring, among a number of projects to reduce the amount of phosphorous entering watercourses.

Other works include infrastructure upgrades and continuing a £1.5bn investment to reduce discharges into watercourses from more than 450 storm overflows across Yorkshire.

Matt Pinder, customer director at Yorkshire Water, said it was the company’s largest ever investment package and follows the delivery of more than 200 infrastructure projects in 20025.

“The money we collect from customer bills, alongside shareholder investment and borrowing, will be spent on a wide variety of improvements across the region – from improvements to storm overflows to mains replacements and bringing in new water resources – alongside delivering a better service for our customers.”

Matt added: “Of course, we know that bill rises will be difficult for some of our customers. Over the five years, we’ll be providing £375m in financial support to 345,000 customers through a range of different schemes.

“I would encourage anyone who is struggling financially to contact us to discuss the options available to them.”

The utility offers two bill reduction schemes, Water Support and Water Sure, and three schemes to support customers with water bill debts: Resolve, Community Trust, and Direct Support.

Customers can receive advice about being placed on a water meter, and whether this would reduce their bill.

Customers can find details of financial support schemes and eligibility at https://www.yorkshirewater.com/bill-account/help-paying-your-bill/ or phone 0345 1299299.

During February, March and April, Yorkshire Water colleagues will be talking to customers at bill support drop-ins.

Customers will be able to find out about immediate support they could get with their bill and sign up for the Priority Service Register – a free service that enables Yorkshire Water to provide a tailored service to those with specific needs.

Over the last 12 months, Yorkshire Water’s improvements include:

• replacing over 120km of mains across the region – estimated to be saving 1.24 million litres every day in leakage

• created 30,500m3 of extra storage in the wastewater network, creating capacity to reduce the likelihood of storm overflow discharges

• drilled new boreholes in East Ness and Brayton Barff to unlock underground water sources

• created wetlands at South Elmsall and Dearne Reach to support wastewater treatment

• Installed more than 100,000 smart meters

Employed an additional 900 members of staff to improve customer service and support the delivery of the entire investment programme