Setting up water bills
Everything you need to know about getting your water set up
Water supply in the UK
Water is one of the most essential utilities – but getting registered with your supplier and billed properly can be complicated.
We’ve broken down everything you need to know about your water bills so you can get registered, set up payment and save in your bills as smoothly as possible. To make the process even easier, book a free call with our team of Connections Experts and let them handle all of your utility setup in one simple process.
Please note that this page contains information and links most relevant for people living in England and Wales. Water in Scotland and Northern Ireland is handled by the nationally operated Scottish Water and Northern Ireland Water respectively.
How is water distributed in the UK?
Suppliers
In England and Wales, water supply is handled by one of 25 private companies based on your area. Water in Scotland and Northern Ireland is handled by a single publicly owned entity – Scottish Water and Northern Ireland Water respectively.
Distribution
Each supplier operates in a fixed area, and supplies every customer in that area. Your supplier is responsible for delivering clean water to your home and maintaining the infrastructure to do so.
Sewerage
The largest water companies in the UK also handle sewerage, transporting ‘waste water’ away from your home and processing it. If you’re with a smaller supplier, you’ll have a separate waste water supplier who handles this.
Billing
About half of homes in the UK have a water meter, which measures how much water you use. These customers are billed based on their actual usage – all other households are billed based on the expected usage for a home of that size.
How many suppliers are there?
There are twenty-three water suppliers operating in England and two in Wales, with one supplier in Scotland and one in Northern Ireland.
Ten of the water companies in England are combined water and sewerage suppliers, while the smaller companies are ‘water only’ suppliers, which partner with another provider to offer sewerage services.
Can I choose my water supplier?
In short – no. Your water supplier is determined entirely by the area where you live. Another supplier would not be able to use the infrastructure in place to supply your home.
What does my water bill include?
Clean water usage
Your clean water bill pays for clean, potable (safe to drink) water to be delivered to your home, at a minimum pressure of seven meters static head. If your pressure falls blow this for an hour or more twice in a 28 day period, or if your water supply is interrupted without warning or quick resolution, you may be able to claim compensation from your supplier.
Waste water removal
Your water bill also covers the removal of waste water from your property. This is any water you’ve used, whether that’s in your kitchen, bathroom or outside drain. If you have a septic tank on your property, and so handle your own wastewater, you’re entitles to pay a lower bill and may be able to claim a refund for any overpayment.
💡 Metered or unmetered?
Metered properties pay for the amount of water they use, unmetered properties pay based on an estimate.
💡 Accessing your meter
Some water meters are inaccessible to the public – your supplier will come and take a reading every six months or so.
💡 Find your stopcock
Your stopcock turns off the water supply at a property, make sure you know where it is in case of emergency.
💡 Sewage charges
Your sewerage might be supplied by a different company to the one that supplies your water. This means you could get a separate bill – or your water company might include sewerage charges on their bill on behalf of the sewerage company.
Setting up water bills when you move
Remember to both close your old water account and open a new one when you move. Reach out to your current supplier in the month before your move with the last date you’ll be in the property and a forwarding address for your final bill.
Your new supplier will need the date you moved in, your contact and payment details and an opening meter reading if you have access to your water meter. They’ll set up an account at the property in your name and issue you an opening bill.
Water bill setup is included in our free, all-in-one utility service, so you can also speak to your Connections Expert to get everything sorted for you.
Why do I have to notify my water supplier?
Setting up an account with the correct move dates and opening meter readings helps ensure you don’t pay for anyone else’s water usage. So it’s important to register with your local supplier when you move.
What is water hardness?
‘Water hardness’ refers to the amount of dissolved minerals in your local public water. Water with high levels of magnesium and calcium is hard water, water with low levels is considered soft. Read more about the differences between hard and soft water here.
Do I have hard or soft water?
If you don’t know what the water is like in your are, don’t worry. Use our Water Hardness Checker to find out if your local water is hard, medium, or soft. Just enter your postcode to find your water hardness and information on how it will affect your daily use.
Is hard water bad?
Hard water has some benefits over softer water. The high calcium content helps keep bones and teeth strong, and some people prefer the taste. However, having harder water in your home can also cause issues.
The minerals dissolved in harder water cause an opaque white build-up on fixtures called limescale. This needs to be regularly removed to prevent damage to your plumbing. Hard water is also more difficult to make bubbles with, requiring more soap, washing up liquid or detergent to be used.
💡 Time your showers
Cutting a few minutes from your daily shower can drastically reduce water use.
💡 Fill up your machines
Make sure your dishwasher or washing machine are full every time you run them.
💡 Reuse whenever possible
Old glasses of drinking water on un-soapy dishwater can be used to water plants
How to save money on water bills
Reducing the amount of water you use at home cuts your environmental impact, as well as saving you money on your energy and water bills.
One of the easiest ways to save water is to look for leaks or drips that waste water constantly. A leaky tap that drips once per second can increase your annual water bill by 6%! Fixing these small plumbing issues is quick and easy to do yourself.
How can I save money if I don’t have a water meter?
If your water is not metered, your usage will not affect your bills. However, reducing usage can still save you money as less hot water used means lower energy bills.
Metered vs unmetered : which is better?
Metered Water
A water meter measures how much water is used. Occupants in metered properties are billed for their water usage, plus a daily standing charge. This means you can cut your water bill by reducing your water usage, as well as making your home more environmentally friendly.
Unmetered water
Occupants in unmetered properties pay for their water based on the size of the home and an estimate of typical water use. If you suspect you use less water than average, you might be able to save by having a water meter fitted. Getting a meter installed is free, and most suppliers will let you trial a water meter for a year to see if it actually saves you money before you commit.
Why the UK trusts us with utilities
Andres Santana
I talked to Nimisha M. over the phone and it was surprisingly smooth and easy to setup all my utilities. She was very knowledgeable of the different options, estimated average fees, and how utilities work in general in the UK. I recommend anyone to use this service.
Florida Pires
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