Hundreds of thousands of households across the UK are set to see their water bills fall after the government unveiled the largest reform of the WaterSure scheme in
nearly three decades.
Announced on Friday, the overhaul will expand eligibility for the support programme, helping an additional 53,000 low-income households while improving savings for many already enrolled.
WaterSure helps households on low incomes who use large amounts of water by capping their annual bills. To qualify, homes must have a water meter and either include someone with a specific medical condition requiring higher water use or have three or more children living at the property.
Currently, around 260,000 households benefit from the scheme, saving an average of £325 a year — more than a third of a typical water bill.
More households to qualify under new rules
Under the changes, people receiving disability benefits will now be eligible for WaterSure if their household income is below £25,745 per year. This expansion alone is expected to bring tens of thousands of additional families into the scheme.
The reforms also introduce a fairer method for calculating the bill cap. For many households already receiving support, this could mean additional savings of up to £100 annually.
Overall, the updated policy is expected to help around 300,000 households, marking the first major update to WaterSure since its introduction in 1999.
Government says reform will support vulnerable families
Water Minister Emma Hardy said the changes are designed to help families struggling with rising living costs.
She said vulnerable households are often hit hardest by financial pressures, including higher water bills. According to Hardy, updating WaterSure will provide meaningful relief to families that need support the most.
The reforms also form part of the government’s broader Water White Paper, which aims to strengthen consumer protections, restore confidence in the water sector and create a more sustainable system.
Key changes to the WaterSure scheme
The updated programme includes several measures designed to make support more accessible and fair:
- Expanded eligibility for people with disabilities, including those receiving disability benefits.
- Fairer bill caps, based on the lowest regional average water usage.
- Additional support for single-person households, whose bills will be capped at the average cost for a one-person home.
- Simplified applications, with the removal of the requirement to pay for a doctor’s note when applying.
Wider measures to reduce household bills
The WaterSure reform comes alongside other initiatives aimed at lowering costs for consumers.
The government plans to accelerate the rollout of smart water meters to millions of homes, allowing households to better track and reduce their water usage.
New mandatory water-efficiency labels on appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and showers are also expected to cut household bills by around £125 million over the next decade.
Part of broader cost-of-living support
The changes form part of a wider set of government policies intended to ease financial pressure on families.
Plans include a Child Poverty Strategy aiming to lift around 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030, alongside measures announced in the budget such as:
- £150 off energy bills
- An increase in the national living wage worth around £900 per year
- The removal of the two-child benefit limit
Together, officials say these measures are intended to provide greater financial security and support for households facing rising living costs.
Mike Keil, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), said: "We’re delighted the UK Government is taking forward the majority of the changes CCW recommended as part of our review of the WaterSure scheme.
These improvements will bring peace of mind to tens of thousands more customers whose circumstances mean they have no choice but to use a significant amount of water for essential needs.
Many households are grappling with rising water bills, and these reforms will help relieve some of that pressure through extending support to more of the most vulnerable customers and also increasing the value of that financial assistance, in many cases".
James Taylor, Director of Strategy at disability equality charity Scope said: "Life costs more if you are disabled, and it’s very good news that more disabled families will qualify for discounted water bills.
Water bills for some disabled families can be eye‑wateringly high. Disabled families often have no alternative but to wash themselves and their clothes more frequently, or to use large amounts of water for medical procedures at home".
Grace Brownfield, Head of Influencing and Communications at Money Advice Trust, the charity which runs National Debtline, said: "People with disabilities or long‑term health conditions can face particularly high essential costs, including for water, which can leave them more exposed to debt.
Strengthening WaterSure is therefore a welcome step that will help more households who rely on higher water use for medical reasons.
At National Debtline, 1 in 5 of people we helped last year were already behind on their water bills, so it’s vital that support continues to be improved for those who need it most – including people who may still fall outside this scheme". Photo by Davide Restivo from Aarau, Switzerland, Wikimedia commons.