Proactive Investors - Water companies are seeking permission from regulator Ofwat to raise household bills even further to cover the costs of fixing pipes and reducing sewage discharges.
After intense scrutiny over polluting waterways in recent years, the industry has drawn up plans that would see households charged £156 extra by 2030 in a bid to raise £96 billion to fund upgrades.
Some 10 new reservoirs would be built, according to industry body Water UK, while leaks would be cut by a quarter compared to 2020.
Alongside this, companies would aim to cut the number of sewage spills into Britain’s waterways by 140,000 annually, after over 300,000 incidences were reported last year.
“While increasing bills is never welcome, this investment in our country’s infrastructure is essential,” Water UK head David Henderson said.
“Approving the plans is necessary so that we can provide the highest quality drinking water for a growing population, ensure the security of our water supply in the future and reduce the use of storm overflows as much as possible.”
Environment secretary Therese Coffey welcomed the plans, commenting that “customers do not pay the price for poor performance”.
Companies were ordered last week to return £114 million to customers after missing targets based on leaks, supply and pollution.
This will involve money being taken off consumer bills next year, with Ofwat also set to determine how much suppliers can charge customers in 2024.