There is help available if you're struggling to pay your water bills.

The best thing to do in the first instance is contact your water supplier. Each have different schemes and discounts available if you're on a low income, have a disability or a large family.

If you live alone, you might also qualify for a single occupier tariff. 

  • South East Water

    South East Water offers a range of different support options if you're struggling, which can reduce your bills or debt by up to 50%!

    • Social Tariff: The Social Tariff caps your water bill, and includes a discount on your water-out charges. To qualify, you must have a household income of less than £18,005 (excluding any disability and housing payments that you receive).
    • WaterSure: This cap means you will not be charged more than South East Water's average bill. You could be eligible for WaterSure if you are a metered customer in receipt of certain qualifying benefits and have either three or more children under the age of 19, or have someone in your home with a medical condition which means you use a lot of water.
    • Water Direct: If you’re falling behind on your bills, Water Direct can help you by combining your yearly bill with any other bill arrears into one weekly payment.
    • Helping Hand: The Helping Hand scheme offers financial assistance to clear water and sewerage debt owed. You'll have to demonstrate you are taking steps to achieve financial stability, but need help clearing water and sewerage debt which has built up over the years.

    Visit South East Water's website for more information and to apply. 

    South East Water

  • Thames Water

    Thames Water offers a range of different support options if you're struggling, which can reduce your bills or debt by up to 50%!

    • WaterHelp: WaterHelp discounts your bill by 50% if your total household income is below £17,005, or your water bill is more than 5% of your net income, taking into account the number of occupants. 
    • WaterSure: This cap means you will not be charged more than Thames Water's average bill. You could be eligible for WaterSure if you are a metered customer in receipt of certain qualifying benefits and have either three or more children under the age of 19, or have someone in your home with a medical condition which means you use a lot of water.
    • Water Direct: If you’re falling behind on your bills, Water Direct can help you by combining your yearly bill with any other bill arrears into one weekly payment. 
    • Customer Assistance Fund: Thames Water's Customer Assistance Fund can help you clear your debt if you’re struggling to pay previous water bills. If you qualify, they'll match any money you pay towards your water debt, pound for pound. You’ll need to pay your current water bills, as well as make an affordable payment towards your debt each month.
    • Breathing space: On the scheme Thames Water won't chase you for payment for at least 60 days and will work with you and or your debt advisor on a manageable payment plan.

    Visit Thames Water's website for more information and to apply. 

    Thames Water

  • Southern Water

    Southern Water offers a range of different support options if you're struggling, which can reduce your bills or debt by up to 50%!

    • Essentials: The Essentials Tariff is designed to help customers who are struggling to pay their water services charges. You’ll qualify if your household income is less than £21,000 (excluding Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance or Personal Independence Payments) and you have savings of less than £16,000 or if someone in your household receives pension credits. If you qualify, your discount will be between 45% and 90% depending on your income. If you qualify through pension credit, you'll get a 45% discount.
    • NewStart: NewStart can help you pay off your water bill debt. You might qualify if you currently owe Southern Water money and haven’t made a payment for a while.
    • WaterSure: This cap means you will not be charged more than Thames Water's average bill. You could be eligible for WaterSure if you are a metered customer in receipt of certain qualifying benefits and have either three or more children under the age of 19, or have someone in your home with a medical condition which means you use a lot of water.
    • Water Direct: If you’re falling behind on your bills, Water Direct can help you by combining your yearly bill with any other bill arrears into one weekly payment. 

    For more information and to apply, visit Southern Water's website

    Southern Water

If you're not sure who your supplier is, you can use this handy tool to find out. Remember, your fresh water supplier might be different to your waste water supplier.

The Energy Saving Trust has also put together a list of tips to help you save water and reduce your bill if you're on a meter.