We all received our water rate demands recently, and there appears to be something going on.
According to Ofwat in a report published today, in April 2008, bills for water and sewerage services will go up by an average of 5.78% (this includes 4.28% inflation). The table which follows shows the picture for all combined water and sewerage companies.
| Company | Average water bill for |
Change | Average sewerage bill for |
Change | Total change – combined bill | |||
|
| 2007-08 (£) | 2008-09 (£) |
(£) | 2007-08 (£) | 2008-09 (£) |
(£) |
(£) |
% |
| Water and sewerage companies | ||||||||
| Anglian Water | 160 | 168 | 8 | 197 | 209 | 13 | 21 | 5.9 |
| Dŵr Cymru1 | 155 | 164 | 9 | 207 | 222 | 15 | 24 | 6.8 |
| Northumbrian |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| – North East | 124 | 128 | 4 | 157 | 166 | 8 | 12 | 4.6 |
| – Essex & Suffolk2 | 156 | 161 | 5 |
|
|
|
| 3.3 |
| Severn Trent Water | 142 | 147 | 5 | 136 | 145 | 9 | 14 | 5.2 |
| South West Water | 190 | 204 | 14 | 289 | 293 | 4 | 18 | 3.7 |
| Southern Water | 120 | 126 | 6 | 213 | 233 | 20 | 26 | 7.8 |
| Thames Water | 165 | 171 | 6 | 111 | 115 | 4 | 10 | 3.8 |
| United Utilities | 153 | 163 | 10 | 180 | 196 | 15 | 25 | 7.5 |
| Wessex Water | 181 | 196 | 15 | 185 | 199 | 14 | 29 | 7.8 |
| Yorkshire Water | 142 | 151 | 9 | 158 | 172 | 13 | 22 | 7.5 |
Interesting averages, as my bill comes out at a whopping 9.1% more overall.
According to Yorkshire Water
We're committed to beating the challenging targets set by our regulators, exceeding our customers' expectations and becoming more and more efficient at what we do. We're also aiming to play a key role in society.
Ofwat thinks the increases are reasonable as they allow the company to:
- Invest more to maintain its pipes, sewers and sewage treatment works.
- Deliver required drinking water and environmental quality improvements. This includes improvements at 22 water treatment works and 564 projects to prevent the sewerage systems and sewage treatment works overloading during storms.
- Meet the demands of new and existing customers for a reliable water supply and sewerage service including investment at over 140 sewage treatment works to accommodate the demands of new and existing customers.
- Reduce odour at four sewerage and sludge treatment sites.
So we have to pay the for the demands of new customers - all those new houses and flats that profit builders and renters at our expense, and pay more for "required drinking water and environmental quality improvements". Which are? - is there something wrong with the water now?
Feeling conned? What are our expectations? Er - clean water and the ability to flush the toilet?
How much is your water rate increase? Do use the Comment facility if you have a point of view.