From April 2026 the average Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water household bill will increase by 4.8%, rising from £652 to £683 in 2026–27. The reason behind this has been to support a significant programme of investment. Between 2025 and 2030, Welsh Water have stated they will invest more than £4bn in its services, double the level of the previous five-year period, including £2.5bn on environmental improvement projects. This price increase will allegedly fund work to reduce pollution, improve water quality, cut leakage and upgrade vital infrastructure.
Households across Wales are once again facing higher water bills, following conformation of another annual increase by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, adding to the growing financial pressures on families already struggling with rising energy, food and council tax costs.
Welsh Water has implemented year-on-year increases to household bills, leaving many residents questioning affordability and value for money. For families on fixed or low incomes, these annual rises are becoming increasingly difficult to absorb.
Residents have contacted their local representatives to express concern that essential services such as water are becoming less affordable, with little flexibility for households to reduce usage or avoid costs.
There has been considerable controversy in recent years over pay bonuses at Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water. Its former chief executive reportedly received £892,000 in total remuneration, comprising salary, benefits, pension contributions, variable pay, and incentives. This made the chief executive more highly paid than any public-sector worker in Wales. However, the organisation maintains that it should not be considered part of the public sector, despite not being privately owned.
For elderly residents, young families and those on low incomes, these repeated increases risk forcing difficult choices between heating, food and other essentials. Community groups have warned that continued bill rises could increase debt and financial hardship across Wales.
Janet Finch-Saunders, Senedd Member for Aberconwy said:
“Once again, households across Wales are being asked to pay more for a basic necessity. Annual increases to water bills may seem small on paper, but when combined with rising council tax, energy costs and food prices, they play a very real strain on family finances.
Water is not a luxury, it is an essential service, and affordability must be at the heart of decision making when it comes to bills.
I believe there must now be greater transparency and accountability, alongside stronger support for those who are finding it hard to pay their bills. Welsh Water and Welsh Government must put affordability at the heart of decision making and ensure households are not continually asked to shoulder rising costs without meaningful protections in place.”
