Welsh Liberal Democrats Condemn Water Bill Rises Across Wales
The Welsh Liberal Democrats have condemned planned water bill increases across Wales, warning that households are being asked to pay more while pollution, service failures and weak regulation continue to undermine public confidence in the water system.
Under the latest plans, customers of Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water will see bills rise by 5% from April, adding an average of £31 a year and taking typical household bills to £683. Meanwhile, customers served by Hafren Dyfrdwy in parts of north-east Wales face an even steeper increase of 9%, one of the highest rises anywhere in England and Wales.
The increases come during a prolonged cost-of-living crisis, with families already struggling with rising food, energy and housing costs. The Welsh Liberal Democrats say it is unacceptable for households to be asked to pay more when rivers continue to be polluted by sewage discharges and customers still experience service disruption and poor communication.
Across Wales, communities have repeatedly raised concerns about the health of rivers, coastal waters and local environments. Sewage pollution continues to damage wildlife, harm tourism and recreation, and erode trust in a system that is supposed to protect essential natural resources.
Despite these ongoing problems, customers are now being told they must shoulder higher bills, while the regulatory framework continues to fail to hold water companies to account or drive the scale of improvement needed.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats argue that families should not be forced to bankroll years of under-investment and environmental damage. They say the current system allows water companies to pass costs onto customers without delivering clean rivers, resilient infrastructure or reliable services.
The party is calling for fundamental reform of water regulation in Wales, including replacing Ofwat with a powerful new Welsh regulator with real enforcement powers to put customers and the environment first. Welsh Liberal Democrats also support a move toward a mutual ownership model, ensuring that money paid by customers is reinvested into infrastructure, sewage treatment and environmental protection, rather than being diverted away from public benefit.
Commenting, David Chadwick MP, Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster Spokesperson, said:
“It is an absolute insult to ask families across Wales to pay higher water bills while our rivers are treated like open sewers and service standards continue to fall short.
“Whether it’s the 5% rise facing Dŵr Cymru customers or the staggering 9% increase imposed by Hafren Dyfrdwy, households are being asked to foot the bill for years of failure by the water industry.
“People should not be paying more to clean up a mess they did not create. The current system protects water companies while customers and the environment lose out.
“The Welsh Liberal Democrats believe we need more than tinkering at the edges. We need a complete overhaul: a new Welsh regulator with real teeth and a move towards mutual ownership so customers’ money is invested back into our water infrastructure and environment.
“Water is a basic necessity. People across Wales deserve fair bills, clean rivers and a system that works in the public interest.”
ENDS
