elderly woman looking at bill.

Pssst! Want to know a secret?

There are now more ways than ever before to reduce the amount you pay for your water and sewerage services.

Okay, so this information isn’t actually classified. But each year thousands of people miss out on savings on their water bills worth millions of pounds. This is because not enough people are aware of the support that’s available, or they don’t expect to get help from their water company. As the body representing the interests of water customers in England and Wales we’re working hard to change that.

So, what options do you have for saving money on water? By following our top tips, you could soon be making big watery savings!

Look into social tariffs

Most water companies in England and Wales now offer reduced ‘social tariffs’ for customers on lower incomes.

Apply for trust fund payments

If you’re in arrears on your water bill, there’s no harm in asking the water company if they have a scheme to help you pay them off. These range from one-off trust fund payments to allowances against arrears so long as regular payments are made.

Install a water meter

For many households the most effective way of cutting their water bill is to install a water meter free of charge. Some people can save more than £100 a year. What’s more, there’s usually an option to switch back to your original unmeasured charges within the first year if you change your mind.

Water meters won’t benefit everyone. As a ‘rule of thumb’ however, if your property has more bedrooms than people living there it’s definitely worth looking into. Our online calculator can tell you how much, if anything, you would be likely to save.

Sign up for WaterSure

If you’re already on a water meter but have high usage needs due to a large family or a medical condition, the WaterSure opens in new window scheme could help.

It may also be beneficial if you receive income-related benefits. WaterSure limits the amount you’re charged each year, and is available in England and Wales.

Get savvier with your hot water use

Even if you aren’t metered, being efficient with hot water can help reduce your energy bills.

Make that soak-away work for you

Some people have soak-aways buried in their garden. In plain terms, a soak-away is a deep ditch filled with rubble and coarse stone. This combo allows rainwater to seep back into the earth near where it falls. This reduces pressure on council drainage and sewerage systems.

If you have a soak-away, you can apply to have the surface water drainage charges removed from your bills. This could typically save you around £35 a year.

Save with your septic tank

Customers who have a septic tank instead of a connection to the sewerage system shouldn’t be paying any sewerage charges. Contact your water company if you think you might be paying for a service you don’t receive.

Good luck – and if you need more advice about your water and sewerage services please visit our website. You can also check out this article from MoneyAware opens in new window that covers more great money-saving tips from Watersure.

This blog post first appeared on StepChange’s Money Aware website opens in new window