Water bills blow for South-East

Households in London and the South-East are likely to bear the brunt of a wave of inflation-busting rises of up to 25% over five years in water bills.

Statistics released today by the regulator Ofwat reveal that Thames Water, Southern Water, South East Water and Sutton and East Surrey are among those demanding the biggest rises in prices from 2010.

The demands from the water companies follow price rises of more than a third since 2004.

Thames Water customers, who have seen average water bills rise from £211 to an average of £284 next year, are facing a rise of another 14% in real terms before inflation, from 2010 to 2015 if Ofwat agrees to its demands.

Southern Water and South East Water are calling for rises of more than 20% while Sutton and East Surrey, which has already asked the regulator for a one-off rise for next year, is asking to increase bills by 25%.