Your water bill explained: charges, meters and help paying
Water bills in England and Wales usually combine several charges, sometimes from two different companies. Here is how to read one.
The charges you will usually see
In some areas one company supplies water and another handles sewerage. One of them may bill for both.
- Water supply — for clean water delivered to your home.
- Sewerage or wastewater — for taking used water away.
- Surface water and highway drainage — often included in the sewerage charge.
Metered or unmetered
Unmetered bills are based on your property's rateable value, not how much you use. Metered bills are based on readings plus a standing charge. Your bill says which applies; metered bills show readings and whether they were estimated.
Checking the bill
- Confirm the billing period and the address.
- On a metered bill, compare the readings with your meter.
- Check you are not being billed for sewerage if your home is not connected to the public sewer (for example a septic tank).
Help with paying
Water companies offer support schemes, including social tariffs for lower incomes. WaterSure can cap bills for some metered households on certain benefits with high essential water use. Ask your water company which schemes it offers.
If you disagree
Complain to the water company first. If it is not resolved, the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) gives free advice and can take up complaints.
Published 20 October 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rules can change and may differ across the UK — check the official sources below for your situation.
Sources
Related guides
Got one of these documents? Upload it privately to ClariDoc for a plain-English explanation.
Not sure what your letter is asking?
Upload your document to ClariDoc. We'll explain it in plain English, pull out the deadline and give you a clear next-step checklist — usually in under a minute.