If you're struggling to manage debt with your water bill and require extra support, help is available.

We know that for some customers, day-to-day spending can be difficult to stay on top of, particularly at the start of a new year.

According to StepChange, the UK’s leading debt charity, half of the people facing financial difficulties who came to them admit that the stigma around debt is a key factor in not getting the help they need earlier.

We understand how important a reliable, high-quality water supply is to customers' daily lives, and we know the cost of living has had an impact on customers.

And whilst water services need to be paid for, we don’t want to see any of our customers go into water poverty.

We offer a range of support options to help customers who are managing debt, and we work alongside organisations that can offer additional support.

Here are some ways we can support you.

Switch to a flexible payment

We offer flexible payment plans to help manage debt. You can choose to pay weekly, fortnightly, or through monthly instalments to help spread the cost over the year.

Get in touch, and we can advise you of your options.

Take a look at our special tariffs

If you are on a water meter and receive certain income-related benefits, you may be eligible for tariffs which cap how much you pay for water or wastewater

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.  

See if you’re eligible for Water Direct

Water Direct is a scheme run in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which helps customers pay water bills and arrears in affordable amounts. If you receive income support, such as Job Seekers’ Allowance, Pension Credit or Employment Support Allowance, you may be able to have your water bill paid directly from your benefits payments.

Request a water meter

If you are an unmetered customer, switching to a water meter is one of the easiest ways to take control of your bill, as you only pay for the water you use. 

Seek independent advice

If you want independent advice, you can contact the National Debt Helpline Monday to Friday 9am - 9pm, and Saturday 9.30am-1pm.

Alternatively, you can get advice from Citizens’ Advice, or from the charity Step Change Debt Charity.