If you’re concerned about your water bill, you’re not alone. Since the beginning of this year, more Plymouth residents have contacted Citizens Advice for support with water issues, including help to access cheaper tariffs and deal with debts. We know that many households in Plymouth will be finding it difficult to meet these extra costs, so we’ve put together our top tips for saving money on your water bill, and next steps if you can’t afford to pay.

Step 1

The first thing to note is that water companies can’t cut off your water supply, even if you owe them money. However, you should still talk to them as soon as possible to explain your situation and explore your options. If you don’t, they can take actions like taking you to court or taking money from your benefits to recover the debt, leaving you worse off.

Step 2

Next, check if you can pay less for your water. If you’re on a low income, you might be eligible for WaterCare, a cheaper tariff offered by South West Water (SWW). You may also be able to limit the amount you pay with the WaterSure tariff, which caps your annual bill at a fixed amount, regardless of how much water you use. To be eligible for WaterSure, you must have a water meter, get certain benefits such as Universal Credit and either live with three or more children under 19 years or have or live with someone who has a medical condition which means they use a lot of water. Call SWW on 0344 346 1010 from 8am – 6pm Monday to Friday, 9am – 1pm on Saturday for more information, or visit their website.

Step 3

Alongside finding out if you can pay less, explore if you can reduce the amount of water you use. SWW can carry out home visits to suggest ways of using less water and energy. The Consumer Council for Water website also has lots of helpful ideas, including tips on using dishwashers and washing machines efficiently, only boiling the water you need, checking for bathroom leaks and using rainwater for gardening. Visit https://www.ccw.org.uk/ to take a look. While you’re there, try out their water use calculator to check if getting a water meter installed will help save you money.

Top tip: if SWW can’t fit a water meter for you, they have to offer you another rate for your water bills instead. This rate is known as an ‘assessed charge’ and is based on your household circumstances. They can also make sure you’re on the lowest possible tariff for your circumstances, and offer a variety of payment plans and methods to help spread the cost of your bills.

Step 4

Further support is available if you’ve explored all these options and you’re still falling behind on payments. Under SWW’s payment matching scheme, ReStart, you can make an agreed payment towards your debt each week. In turn, SWW will write off a percentage of what you owe, until your debt is cleared. Another option available to those claiming benefits is the Department for Work and Pensions’ WaterDirect scheme. Contact SWW for more information about this option, which allows you to have your debts paid directly out of your benefit payments. If you’re struggling to pay due to a life-changing event such as a bereavement or losing your job, you might be able to get your debts cleared or access short-term help with your bills through SWW’s FreshStart scheme.

Finally, remember that we’re always here if you’re struggling financially or facing debt. Return to the main website for different ways to get in touch with us for advice and support.