Water bills will rise by £31 a year over the next five years

Water bills will rise by an average of £31 a year over the five years from April, the industry regulator has said.

The increase is more than the £19 a year Ofwat proposed in July, but less than the amount requested by water companies.

Ofwat said the increase was enough for water companies in England and Wales to pay for upgrades and reducing sewage discharges.

However, the £31 increase is before inflation is factored in so the actual bill is likely to be higher.

The water industry has faced sharp criticism in recent years over leakage and discharge of sewage into rivers.

But Ofwat said the higher bills would cost the sector £104 billion in upgrades.

Ofwat chief executive David Black said the regulator is “fully aware of the impact of bill increases for some customers”, adding that water companies now “face the challenge” of making “significant improvements” over time. “Need to do”. Increase in bills”.

Bill increases vary by region. The biggest increase will fall on Southern Water customers, with bills rising by 53% – an average of £642 – by 2030.

Southern Water supplies thousands of homes currently interruptedMore than 58,000 properties were affected.

Wessex and Northumbrian water bills will increase by the least amount – 21%.

Thames Water, which is struggling with huge debts, will be able to charge customers 35% more, with bills rising to £588.

Rebecca Sinker, a member of the Clean Water Action Group in Hastings, said the group was finding “safe readings” for bacteria in the ocean.

He said the region, surrounded by southern waters, is dependent on the sea for its fishing and tourism industries.

“They are not maintaining the infrastructure and that is why we are angry at the rising bill costs,” he said.

“We don’t trust them to spend our money properly, and we can’t go anywhere else for our water. It’s a monopoly by a private company.”