What is a normal water bill these days?
Posted by summer-TA@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 87 comments
For the last year my water bill has continued to increase. It’s just been updated again and is now at £87pm for 2 people.
We do not have baths, don’t water a garden, don’t wash cars. Literally shower, do laundry & run a dishwasher every few days.
Scrolling back to when I had more people in the house- For my April bill in 2023 when I had 3 adults in the house my direct debit was £30pm and I was in credit
My current bill for 2 adults is £87.
On the breakdown it says for 14/10/25- 7/4/26
My freshwater standing charge is £24.24
My wastewater standing charge is £51.97
That makes my yearly standing charges at £158 / £13pm before I’ve even used any water.
It’s then given my water charge a 260.80 pence per m3 and waste water at 297.61 pence per m3
I’m going to check my water meter this weekend and turn it off to check no leaks but, is this a normal water bill these days? It seems insanely high for 2 adults but maybe everyone’s has increased this drastically
epicmindwarp@reddit
Depends where you are.
We're currently on about £35 per month for 2 adults. We use a dishwasher, and a bit of a crap shower. Garden requires watering a few times a week.
I'd say £87 sounds a bit high, but depends who your supplier is, and your forecast. Smart meter, or manual reading? Any leaks?
summer-TA@reddit (OP)
Mines Severn Trent freshwater with wastewater Yorkshire water
It’s manual readings (they do them) I’ve never inputted it.
No leaks as far as I’m aware, going to double check this weekend and turn everything off but really doubt it
InsertObligatoryPun@reddit
You can and probably should also take them manually if you can. Always worth double checking, especially if you think you’re being overcharged.
Our bill under Anglian is around £50 a month for two adults, showering probably once every other day each, 2 or 3 washer and dishwasher loads. No watering through.
summer-TA@reddit (OP)
Yeah think I’m definitely going to do this for a while (just need to learn how to read it, I think it’s in the road & where to turn everything off as I’ve never done this, shall be giving a go this weekend)
Lolabird2112@reddit
You need to do more than that as that won’t show you have a leak. I’m with Thames and if you poke around on your usage stats, I can find an hourly breakdown. That’s how I found out my flat was using 3L/hr. Did all the tests, leak was btwn their meter and my stopcock but they wouldn’t do anything. Wasn’t until it got above 10L/hr that they came out. Luckily it wasn’t on my property so their responsibility.
But you need to check everything including toilets that can be refilling without you being able to see (toilet paper test), outside taps etc. Check meter read then shut your stopcock for a couple of hours & read again. Then stop at the meter and do same.
InsertObligatoryPun@reddit
It usually a little round plastic lid looking thing in the floor. Should helpfully say water on.
Could take a few days readings in a row and try and compare to your usage. If the meter is spinning, but everything’s off and you’re not doing laundry etc, could have a small leak somewhere.
One-Conversation-203@reddit
Surely your metered bill has a usage section, and you have checked if this is age is concordant with other 2 people households? We are severn trent and pay £26 a month. Over the past 106 days we used 12m3 of water. 12m3 at 260.8p per m3 is 31.3 11.4m3 at 150.04p per m3 is 17.1 (wastewater, est 95% of used water) Water standing charge 14.57 Wastewater standing charge 11.42 Surface water drainage 6.31 Highway drainage 5.08 Brings our total usage over 106 days to 85.78. Thats basically 3.5 months, roughly 25 a month but this was over winter with less garden water, etc. we are low usage, have a dishwasher that we use, showers only, laundry not very frequently. I would definitely do a test and turn off your houses water for a while and see if the meter moves. 87 is frankly ridiculous. You say you’re metered, does the bill show the correct meter readings?
summer-TA@reddit (OP)
It says 176 days has used 60m3 of water. I’ll be completely honest- I don’t know what that is, but it seems high, considering its use for 2-3 showers per day about 3-4 loads of laundry per week, and 2-3 dishwashers per week
One-Conversation-203@reddit
Yea that sounds too high. One m3 of water is one meter cubed- imagine a cube, 1m tall by 1m wide by 1m long, and filled with water. 1m3 is 1000 litres. Imagine how much water humans drink in a day, 2-3L, 1m3 is a lot! Mainly used on baths, showers, flushing the toilet, laundry, etc. the actual amount we drink is so small. Doing the calculations it seems that your usage isnt too high above normal use, but you can google what your appliances are like how much your dishwasher uses per cycle, how much a 15 min shower uses, how much a washing machine is etc. and see if it is in any way close. 60m3 divided by 180 days is 0.33m3 per day so 330 litres per day or 2300L per week. Do the calculations or even rough estimates and see if it fits! Hope this helps
summer-TA@reddit (OP)
Will definitely have a look into- thanks!
whodunnit20@reddit
We are Anglia Water and pay £76 a month on a meter, there are three of us here. We have showers, use the water butt for watering plants and use the hose to wash down our three Labradors.
awakenkraken@reddit
Was waiting to see an Anglian Water response!
£87 here. That’s 2 adults and a child. My wife takes 2 baths a day, as does kiddo. We also do a lot of laundry.
whodunnit20@reddit
Three of us only have showers, yeah my washing machine always seems on, don’t know where it all comes from 😂
trevhcs@reddit
Severn Trent around north Nottinghamshire and its around 80 odd quid now up from 70 odd last year per month. Keeps going up and up with just 2 people, water meter and no dishwasher etc. Apparently that's average for here.
If you want to check leaks, put toilet paper on back of the toilet bowl as its incredible how much a small leak there can addup. We had a bill for £800 for a leaky valve we couldn't even notice there until they did that.
summer-TA@reddit (OP)
Thank you! Will definitely do this to have a check
We are in similar areas though so guess around £80+ for 2 people might be the norm 🥲
No_Chemist2922@reddit
Wastewater standing charge is bonkers.. no other comments other than that
summer-TA@reddit (OP)
I know, being double the freshwater too feels completely insane & backwards
Waste is Yorkshire water vs fresh is Severn Trent & feel like Yorkshire generally is more expensive
It just annoys me that they aren’t all capped at the same given you have no choice in the matter of who supplies you
No-Snow-9605@reddit
£29 a month for 2 people. I won't complain again after reading yours.
AgentAceX@reddit
£131 was my last bill (i pay every 6 months) and only £27 of that was for water, the other £104 is standing charges and returning sewer water.
The charges are mental compared to the cost, they even charge for rain water even though i only have soak aways.
Freedom-For-Ever@reddit
Worth checking that the flush unit on your loo isn't leaking...
If modern flush units fail, the only way you know is if you see a constant trickle into the pan...
Also worth checking all the overflow outlets, from the CH header tank, cold water tank and loo cistern, to check none are over-flowing.
PsychologicalRise368@reddit
My Scottish normal is nil thankfully.
Unfortunately higher taxes though!
Plus_Pangolin_8924@reddit
For band B it works out to be £43 a month for water and waste in Scotland of course paid via council tax. Seeing others here is a steal.
whodunnit20@reddit
My daughter is at the University of Aberdeen and will be moving into her own flat at the end of May. We are all from England so new to Scotland rules. Does no one pay for a water bill in Scotland? Am I right reading here it’s included in people’s Council Tax, as my daughter being a student will not have to pay Council Tax?
PsychologicalRise368@reddit
A small amount applied to your council tax, no separate water bill regardless of usage. To be honest I'm not even really sure what the English system is, but seeing some people say £80 a month c.£1k a year seems horrendous. I'm not even sure what the element of water is on my CT, ive never looked, cant be high as my CT isn't high.
whodunnit20@reddit
We are now on water meters, so the more you use, the more the dial turns and you pay for. Sewage is the waste coming out of your house from toilets and plug holes. We pay £76 a month for our bill.
JennyW93@reddit
This is right. It’s included in council tax so she won’t be paying for water or sewerage. Just make sure she notifies Aberdeen City Council that she is a student (the uni will have guidance on this as they confirm the student status to the council).
whodunnit20@reddit
Thank you for your help.
glasgowgeg@reddit
Correct, she won't pay anything
NI3K@reddit
there are Scottishwater charges listed as part of your council tax bill :) personally i'd rather pay marginally more tax and have a publicly owned water and sewer system rather than private companies that defer investment and charge eyewatering prices to create a profit for their investors :)
PsychologicalRise368@reddit
Yes, just no separate metered water usage, so can use much as we like.
Still not happy about income tax!
NI3K@reddit
even as a higher rate taxpayer I'm only £130 a month worse off, and im happy to pay more for a better performing NHS, free prescriptions, non metered water supply, free higher education, free bus travel for young people etc etc :)
PsychologicalRise368@reddit
Yes get your point, but is it sustainable, my local council is 720m in debt, CT increases near 9% and everything is going to ruin locally.
I'd rather contribute more on a means based system rather than have a c.£18k gross wage difference between minimum wage (over 21 40 hour week) and higher rate tax. It can disincentives.
huskydaisy@reddit
It's pretty depressing, isn't it? My direct debit has had a 57% rise since 2021 despite household usage almost halving in the same time period.
summer-TA@reddit (OP)
That’s exactly how I feel, I have 1 less person in the house vs a couple years ago so 1/3 less use & yet the water bill has gone up to 3x as much
3k3n8r4nd@reddit
Ours went up from £14 to £18, the numbers in this thread seem crazy
summer-TA@reddit (OP)
That’s basically just the amount of my standing charge 😭
NagromNitsuj@reddit
Crazy increases. They really take the piss, even though I was already happy handing it over.
toady89@reddit
Currently about £30 a month, for years it was £20 a month. Single person household, daily showers and occasional baths.
iElvendork@reddit
3 bed house with only 2 adults in and we pay around £35 a month with United Utilities. Probably average of 30 minutes of showering a day, washing machine on 2/3 times per week, dishwasher on 2/3 times per week, we don't currently water the garden or wash our car, but probably flush the toilet a lot 😂
summer-TA@reddit (OP)
Sounds very similar to our usage 🥲 Definitely going to be turning off and checking for leaks but I genuinely think it’s just the provider rates & standing charges tbh as quite a lot of others seem to have similar use/ bills
cayosonia@reddit
Check your toilet flappers, its amazing how costly a leaky one can be.
If possible (and I know this can be tricky in the UK), take a meter reading before you go out somewhere (with all taps off no washing machine going etc) and then take another reading when you get back this will let you know whether you have a leak.
summer-TA@reddit (OP)
Excuse my ignorance, what is a toilet flapper? And how does one check it?
Good shout on leaving the house for a while whilst off- I was just going to turn it off for a min or two and see but I think you’re right on leaving it longer
cayosonia@reddit
No worries, the toilet flapper is usually a round plastic disc in your toilet cistern that is attached to the toilet handle by a chain. When you flush it is raised to let the water out and then it drops sealing the hole and allowing the cistern to fill up again. Over time the plastic degrades and you can get leaks. To check for small leaks, put some food colouring in the cistern and see if you get coloured water in the bowl (either immediately or over time).
I worked for a water utility for 13 years and this was usually the usual cause of high bills.
summer-TA@reddit (OP)
Ah right okay, will take a look. I don’t hear any water running from it & the toilet was replaced 6 years ago so not hugely old but will do the dye thing in case. I have some food colouring I think 🙂 Worth a check if I’m checking everything else
Embezzlement_King@reddit
I used to pay about 35 living alone got a roommate 3 months ago and the highest we’ve had so far is around 60. We do laundry twice a week and run the dishwasher almost every night and shower daily. Slightly not so far from yours so maybe waters just gone up these days.
tombola201uk@reddit
£60 a month, family of 4, South Eastern water
DuckMagic@reddit
We are a household of 2 adults, 2 dogs and 2 cats. We moved here a year ago, and our monthly water bill has also been climbing over the past year- it's about £70-80 per month now. Just like you, no baths, no watering the garden etc, just showers, dishwasher and laundry. I actually called the water company worried there was an error as it's so much higher than expected, they said it was bang on estimate for 2 people households for them.
summer-TA@reddit (OP)
Mine is half Yorkshire water too- I think Yorkshire are on the higher end of pricing compared to others. It’s a joke!
All I keep thinking is imagine the price if I did want baths or to water a garden or have kids, genuinely boggles the mind
DuckMagic@reddit
Yeah, it's genuinely only £10 off matching the electric bill (that's with us both working from home), it's crazy and quite scary how much water is costing
dannoutt@reddit
Scotland so publicly own water and billed through council tax - which I’m in band E. Unmetered. According to my bill £28/month for water, £32/month for sewage.
Creative-Kiwi-3967@reddit
About £200 per quarter for a family of 3 with a daily bath for our toddler
username994743@reddit
99.50 per month in South Wales. 2 adults and a 9yo. Its ridiculous, it doubled in the last few years
summer-TA@reddit (OP)
🥲 seems many of us in a similar boat, some providers definitely seem significantly cheaper than others though
romeo__golf@reddit
For reasons known only to South Eastern Water, they suggest my direct debit increases and decreases with alarming regularity despite my usage remaining fairly stable.
They wanted £30/month for 6 months, then £50/month, then said I was in credit so down to £20/month, then I was "using more than previously" so up to £60/month, then back in credit... It was a farce because for some reason their system couldn't just work out my actual usage and average it over 12 months.
I've now stopped the direct debit and simply pay every six months on receipt of a bill. I know my usage should be around £40/month so I save this each month and then use it to pay the bill when it comes. It was £214 in November (\~£36/month for the previous 6 months) but the bill suggested I set up a direct debit of £57!
I live alone, but have a power shower which I stand under until the tank runs out of hot water most weekends. Their usage summary shows me as a heavy user, which is fine, I just wish their billing system could make its mind up.
My-Imperfect-House@reddit
"I have a power shower which I stand under until the tank runs out of hot water most weekends"
I hope you know that's the best life is ever gonna get
romeo__golf@reddit
The previous owner of the house was an elderly woman and there's a little seat in the shower. Sometimes I just sit there disassociating for a while.
nmfin@reddit
Mine isn’t as high as it “should” be. I had a meter fitted some months ago and subsequently had some plumbing work done which meant the water was shut off at the stopcock. Then it transpired that half the house is fed by another inlet that I don’t know about… so free water for half the house. Water company did do a survey before fitting the meter, so their loss for not spotting that. They had their chance :)
Needless to say, I shower in the free part of the house, use the toilet there, and even fit a garden tap fed from that part of the supply.
summer-TA@reddit (OP)
A win is a win- I’m glad some people have good water stories haha
usaiq@reddit
I'm paying £45 pm
ema_l_b@reddit
According to Southern Water, for 2 people it should be adding £41 a month, and this is the general average for each company.
I'm with Yorkshire water and have the one set charge a month no matter how much I use (which was 35 but in guessing it's gone up to around 45)
Positive-Plum-4283@reddit
Can I ask what type of house you live in? Ours is 68 with Yorkshire Water, not on a meter.
summer-TA@reddit (OP)
It’s a 2 bed detached. (2 up 2 down) so not like it’s a big house either 😭
summer-TA@reddit (OP)
Yeah this is roughly what I thought (and google said too) but is hugely off for me, which is why I was curious what people are actually paying as I can’t believe it’s right with current increases
I’d love to not have a meter & be on a fixed value
My-Imperfect-House@reddit
You think that's bad, I was on a 6 month term and the water company managed to charge me 3 times within a year just because I moved house, and the person on the phone just told me I was in a whole year's worth of credit.
The best thing ever is switching from non-metered, to switching to metered, because you end up paying after you've used it not before... which is great because at one point I'll be dead and they'll come chasing me for money. Hopefully I died in the bath with the taps running.
Reasonable-Cat5767@reddit
We pay about £105 a month for 4 people. 2 baths, multiple showers, dishwasher on every day, about 6 loads of laundry a week. South West Water is one of the most expensive in the country though, which explains a lot...
summer-TA@reddit (OP)
That is high- although given the increase in your use & people vs mine I’d expect it to be more than a £17 difference! Which again makes me feel like mine is insanely high. I’m with Severn Trent fresh & Yorkshire water waste as I guess I’m on the border so they are different companies
Reasonable-Cat5767@reddit
Definitely sounds like you're paying too much - my parents are with Severn Trent and their usage is probably similar to yours, they're paying around £30 a month. Are you in arrears at all?
summer-TA@reddit (OP)
I was slightly last bill cycle as they said I used more than my direct debit so put my direct debit up by £20 to clear the difference. They’ve now put the direct debit up this cycle a further £9 (despite it saying my usage has decreased by 11%) im guessing due to their standing charge & rate rises for this financial year
I’m honestly blown away by the price
nerdztech@reddit
Currently £53 a month 2 adults, it does vary on area and usage but £87 does seem pretty high maybe check for leaks.
luxford2@reddit
We’re on a water meter and pay £42 a month and get a bill every quarter or 6 months (can’t remember which).
We finished last year with about £30 excess credit so it must be enough plus a little bit extra.
TLDR: Roughly £450-500 a year.
3speechnotallowed@reddit
Mine is 55 a month for me and my partner and we are frugal. Quick showers and no baths! We are very frugal so it does annoy me
KellyMelany@reddit
That standing charge for wastewater is absolute thievery. £87 for two people makes it feel like you're running a water park in the living room. I'd definitely check for leaks, or maybe your meter is just having a mid-life crisis.
summer-TA@reddit (OP)
I agree, insane when I looked at it on the bull- We can thank Yorkshire water for that
And I know- I’d understand it if I was running hosepipes, filling pools, taking baths, but 2 showers a day, 3ish loads of laundry a week and maybe 2 dishwasher loads feels a little bit of a rip off for £87
Yeah in really hoping somethings wrong with it but it’s the 3rd increase in a row now so really doubt it, I think they are just all out for as much money as possible these days
thorn312@reddit
I'm with Severn Trent and it's £42 a month for 2 adults, though I expect it'll go up once summer hits as I will be using a lot of water in the garden.
LetsGoMugEm@reddit
If you have a gym membership, shower there. If not signed up for piregym £23 a month and use the showers there. Wash up by hand.
Particular_Tune7990@reddit
2 person household in SE Wales here, no dishwasher but quite a large garden - 4 bed detached house. We have a meter - £49 pcm currently
Just to give some perspective on 'I wish I was unmetered' - that rather depends on the property. When I first moved to Cardiff I lived in a studio flat in an old converted townhouse. After my first water bill I very quickly requested a meter as I discovered if a building is split into flats they charge each flat the water rates according to the rateable value of the whole building - i.e. each flat gets charged as if it was the whole building. Now *that* was a rip off - it cut my bill by about 80% at the time (20 years ago).
summer-TA@reddit (OP)
Yeah I can definitely see it in that situation. My parents 6 bed house before they downsized was £70pm fixed rate & I’m paying £87 on a 2 bed house, in this instance I’d love to not have one 😭
KellyMelany@reddit
That standing charge for wastewater is absolute thievery. £87 for two people makes it feel like you're running a water park in the living room. I'd definitely check for leeks,
Matt_Moto_93@reddit
If OP finds any, he can put tem in a pi with chicken and ham
superiner@reddit
About £30-35 pm with Ses water. Single occupancy
yolo_snail@reddit
Just gone up to £22 a month. Don't know how I'm going to afford it
BarryIslandIdiot@reddit
Im in a completely different part of the country, but mine is less than £60 a month for two adults. Similar water usage.
VolcanicBear@reddit
I'm unmetered, east Midlands 3 bed semi, £650 per year or so.
summer-TA@reddit (OP)
I’d genuinely love to be unmetered, feel like it’s so much better value, especially with the current extortionate rates & no stress on them keep changing your direct debit!
Psychological-Ad9963@reddit
I dread to think how much i owe my water company i havent been given a bill since 2022 and have just been ignoring it
Lonely-Job484@reddit
Mine's over £80/m too.
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