Water guides

Water is the bill households understand least, largely because you cannot switch supplier in England and Wales. What you can change is how you are charged. These guides explain metered versus unmetered billing, whether fitting a meter would actually save you money, what the average bill looks like, and what help is available if you are struggling to pay.

There are also practical guides to registering with your water company when you move, finding your stopcock before you need it, and cutting usage with changes that do not require buying anything. If you have hard water, the water hardness checker will tell you what you are dealing with, and our water setup page covers getting an account opened.

For the regulator’s view on bills, standards and company performance, see Ofwat. For help with arrears and social tariffs, Citizens Advice is the best starting point.