As we strive to keep customer bills affordable for customers across our region, we have announced a below-inflation increase in water charges this year.

Our bill for water-only services – funding the delivery of safe and reliable supply of high-quality drinking water – will increase by an average of 2%. This is amongst the lowest bill increases in the UK.

The wastewater services operated by Severn Trent Water, but collected on their behalf by South Staffs Water, will increase by an average of 14.5%. The combined impact of this means that the average household living in the South Staffordshire region, and served by the two companies, will see an increase in their combined clean water and wastewater service bill of approximately 8.5% next year.

We have kept our charges as low as possible, recognising a vital responsibility to keep bills affordable while re-investing these customer payments to deliver essential improvements to the water network for households today, as well as generations to come.

The new prices, which will take effect from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, were signalled in the company’s final determination, which was approved by the industry regulator Ofwat in December 2025.

Between 2025 and 2030, we will invest £702 million to upgrade water services for the region. This investment focuses on the priorities customers have said matter most, including reducing leakage, maintaining high-quality water and ensuring a reliable, resilient water supply.

The investment will also create new jobs in the sector’s supply chain and provide apprenticeship opportunities to welcome more young talent in the water industry.

Last year, household bills for the region increased above the rate of inflation for the first time since 2021. This came as water companies entered a new five-year period of investment, otherwise known as an assessment management period (AMP), during which all companies must meet specific performance targets and service standards that are rigorously assessed.

In the first year of this five-year business plan period, we have:

• Expanded our leakage team and fixed more than 3,400 leaks
• Replaced 12km of ageing pipes
• Delivered environmental and biodiversity improvements across 916 hectares of land
• Supported over 56,000 customers with social tariffs to help keep bills affordable

Alex Wilkes, Customer Services Director, commented: "As the supplier for water for around half a million homes in the region, we take our role as custodians of the water network incredibly seriously. We know our customers rely on us every day. We’re also aware that every penny we spend is our customers’ money, so we work hard to keep bills as affordable as possible and ensure we invest wisely on the things that matter most to them.

"Our conversations with thousands of customers are clear: they want us to protect and improve the water network, tackle leakage and manage water resources responsibly. The investments we are making now will help safeguard the region’s water supply, respond to the challenges posed by climate change and ensure we can meet increased demand for water as the population grows for generations to come.

"At the same time, we know many households are feeling financial pressure. We are listening and doing all we can to help. We offer flexible payment options, tailored support and a range of financial assistance schemes to help anyone who needs it."

We have a range of options available to support those struggling to pay their water bill. These include:

• Assure – a discounted tariff for low-income households
• WaterSure - a national scheme designed to help families save money if they use a lot of water and receive certain income-related benefits

A total of 65,717 customers currently benefit from these schemes.  

Customers with medical, physical or learning needs can also join the Priority Services Register, which now supports 108,106 people with additional help when they need it most.

Customers may also reduce their bill by installing a free water meter, ensuring they only pay for the water they use.

We encourage anyone who needs help with their bill to get in touch as early as possible.