Why is my bill higher than usual?
If you have a water meter, you'll be billed for the amount of water you use, although there are a number of reasons that could cause your bill to be higher than expected. Here, we take you through the list of things to check and what can be done.
1. Price increases
Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water household customer bill increased in 2025-26. A typical metered customer would see their annual bill increase from £437 to £575, whilst a typical unmetered customer would see their annual bill increase from £693 to £913.
Please see the table below showing the average price increase depending on what you are charged.
| Charge | Price Increase |
| Water Only | 45% |
| Sewerage Only | 22% |
| HelpU | 10% |
| WaterSure Wales Full Service & Water | 32% |
| WaterSure Wales Water Only | 45% |
| WaterSure Wales Sewerage Only | 22% |
| The average for full service & water together | 32% |
Does your bill look right?
Answer a few short questions to see an estimate on what your bill should be.
How many people live at your property?
How do you use your water?
Please select Yes or No
Your estimate
Based on the information you’ve provided, we would expect your metered bill to be around £{MonthlyCharge} per month* if you switched to a meter.
This is just an estimate, your bill may be higher or lower than this depending on how much water you use. You would be billed based on the amount of water you use every 6 months.
If you’re interested, read on below for more information.
*The monthly estimate is based on a customer who is receiving both a water and sewerage service.
We would expect your bill to be around
£{{monthlyCharge}}
per month
or £{AnnualCharge} per year.
2. How we calculate your payments
To work out your monthly payment, we start by looking at your last two bills and averaging them over 12 months. We then apply any price changes shown in the table above.
If your previous payments didn’t fully cover your bills, your new amount will include an adjustment to clear any outstanding balance and cover the water you’ve used.
If you had credit on your last bill, we may have temporarily reduced your payments to use that credit. Once it’s used up, we’ll increase your payments to make sure you stay on track and avoid falling into arrears.
3. A longer billing period
Your latest bill could be for a longer period than your previous bill. The longer the bill period, the more water you will use.
For example, your first bill could be for 150 days and 26m3, and your second bill be for 193 days and 33m.3.
4. Increased consumption
If your water use has gone up compared to previous bills, your monthly payment will increase to reflect this. We base your payments on your recent usage, so any extra water you’ve used will be included in the calculation.
This helps make sure your payments cover your actual consumption and prevents you from falling behind on your account.
Your water use can increase if more people are living in your home or if you’ve taken on activities that use extra water. This might include welcoming a new baby, having guests stay, or family members moving back in.
It can also happen during home renovations or when enjoying water-based activities like filling a hot tub, paddling pool, or pond, or spending more time gardening. These changes can lead to higher water usage and may affect your payments.
5. A water leak
- A dripping tap which can waste at least 18 litres a day. This would cost about £20 a year!
- A leak on an appliance e.g. a washing machine or boiler.
- A leak on any pipework which is your responsibility.
If you're worried you may have a leak, take a look at our help and advice article on dealing with leaks at home and how to perform a leak test.
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