Low-income households struggling to pay their water bills are being urged by the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) not to miss out on vital support available from their water companies.

Nine water companies have recently launched new social tariffs, which can help reduce the bills of eligible customers who are on low incomes.

It means a total of 15 water companies in England and Wales now offer one of these special tariffs, which are the latest addition to a wide range of schemes that already exist to support customers struggling to pay.

Andy White, Senior Policy Manager at CCWater, said:

We know from speaking to water customers on low incomes that many are reluctant to ask for assistance or are simply unaware that help exists.

But rather than suffer in silence we’d urge customers to visit our website or contact their water company to check whether they might qualify for help.

CCWater’s website now features a useful guide to the social tariffs which are available, including the nine recently launched by Anglian Water, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, Northumbrian Water, Essex and Suffolk Water, Severn Trent Water, South East Water, Southern Water, United Utilities and Yorkshire Water.

The water watchdog is encouraging customers who are in financial difficulty to visit its website at www.ccwater.org.uk or to get in touch with their water company to check whether they might qualify for support.