Can I switch water supplier in the UK?

Household customers in England and Wales cannot choose their supplier — it is set by region. Your savings come from meters, tariffs, support schemes and usage instead.

Is a water meter always cheaper?

No. It helps when your household uses less water than your property's rateable value assumes — typically when there are fewer people than bedrooms. Run your supplier's calculator first.

What if I cannot afford my water bill?

Contact your supplier straight away and ask about social tariffs, WaterSure and payment plans. Water companies cannot disconnect household customers for non-payment, but arrears still build.

How to save money on your water bill in the UK

5 min read

You cannot switch water supplier in England and Wales — your region decides it for you. That leaves three levers: how you are charged, whether you qualify for help, and how much you use. All three are worth checking, because unmetered bills are based on your property's old rateable value rather than anything you actually consume.

1. Work out whether a meter would help

The rough rule of thumb: if you have more bedrooms than people, a meter usually saves money. A single person in a three-bed house on an unmetered bill is very often overpaying substantially.

Use your supplier's water meter calculator with your real occupancy before deciding. In England and Wales you can generally switch back within a trial period if the metered bill turns out higher, so the downside is limited.

2. Check the schemes almost nobody claims

Water companies run their own support schemes and they are not applied automatically. Ring yours and ask what you qualify for.

WaterSure: caps bills for metered customers on certain benefits who have a large family or a medical need for high water use.
Social tariffs: most suppliers run a reduced-rate tariff for low-income households — eligibility varies by company.
Surface water drainage rebate: if rainwater from your property does not drain into the public sewer, you may be paying for a service you do not receive.
Leak allowance: suppliers will often waive charges for water lost through a leak you have repaired.

3. Reduce usage without noticing

On a meter, usage is the bill. The largest household uses are showers, toilets and washing machines, so target those rather than the tap while brushing your teeth.

Ask your supplier for a free water-saving pack — most offer shower timers, cistern displacement bags and tap aerators at no cost.
A water-efficient shower head pays for itself quickly if you have a combi or electric shower, because you also save on heating the water.
Run washing machines and dishwashers full, and use eco settings.
Fix dripping taps and running toilets promptly — a continuously running loo can waste hundreds of litres a day.

4. Remember the hot water double-saving

Every litre of hot water you save shows up twice: once on the water bill and again on the energy bill that heated it. That makes shower length and washing-machine temperature two of the most cost-effective habits to change in the whole house.

See this applied to your own money

Ai Money Saver checks your income and outgoings — typed in, from a bank statement, or talked through — and shows where you're likely overpaying before you pay anything.

Start assessment Use a bank statement

Frequently asked questions

Can I switch water supplier in the UK?: Household customers in England and Wales cannot choose their supplier — it is set by region. Your savings come from meters, tariffs, support schemes and usage instead.
Is a water meter always cheaper?: No. It helps when your household uses less water than your property's rateable value assumes — typically when there are fewer people than bedrooms. Run your supplier's calculator first.
What if I cannot afford my water bill?: Contact your supplier straight away and ask about social tariffs, WaterSure and payment plans. Water companies cannot disconnect household customers for non-payment, but arrears still build.