Many struggling households are missing a key way to cut their water bills sharply

The number of households reducing their water bills through social tariffs rose by almost a fifth over the past year, yet many people still do not realise these schemes exist.

A more than 30% surge in average water and sewage bills in the past two years has added strain on households

People facing steep water costs have been urged to check whether they can get support, with some households able to cut their bill dramatically.

Every water company offers a social tariff scheme aimed at lowering bills for customers on low incomes, although eligibility rules and the level of help depend on the supplier.

New figures from the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) show that suppliers in England and Wales helped about 2.3 million customers through social tariffs in the year to April. That was nearly 380,000, or almost one-fifth, more than in the previous year.

The average discount has also increased sharply, from £190 a year to £258. But the level of support still varies widely, with average reductions ranging from £159 to £474 depending on where people live. CCW has renewed its call for a single national social tariff to help around 1.8 million households out of water poverty.

All water companies offer social tariffs to help reduce bills for eligible customers, but the rules vary a lot (Image: Getty)

The watchdog also said 273,400 customers received an average saving of £428 through the WaterSure scheme, which limits water and sewerage bills for people on income-related benefits.

With average water and sewage bills having climbed by more than 30% to £639 over the past two years, and other costs also rising, it is a good time to see whether help is available.

Soaring water bills are another worry for hard-up households

What are water social tariffs?

All water companies offer a social tariff for customers who qualify, which reduces water bills. However, each company sets its own eligibility rules, which may depend on the benefits you receive.

You can usually apply only if you are the main account holder named on the water contract.

Are there some examples?

Take Thames Water, the biggest supplier in England and Wales, as an example.

Its scheme, WaterHelp, is available to customers whose water bill is more than 5% of their income after housing costs, disability benefits and council tax. The number of people in the household is also taken into account.

Those who qualify can currently receive a discount of between 25% and 99%, although Thames says this may change in future.

Another example is Severn Trent’s Big Difference scheme, which is for households with an income below £24,454, with some families eligible for an additional income allowance if they have dependent children.

Successful applicants can receive a minimum discount of £117 and a maximum of £764.

WaterSure scheme can cap bills for households who need to use a lot of water for certain reasons (Image: Getty Images)

What’s the WaterSure scheme?

WaterSure is a government scheme that caps the bills of households that struggle to pay, are on a water meter and use a large amount of water. This may be due to a medical condition or a large family.

More than 220,000 households in England and Wales receive help through the scheme, with average annual savings of more than £300.

To qualify, your household must also receive one of these benefits: Universal Credit, housing benefit or Pension Credit.

In addition, one of the following must apply:

• You live with three or more children under 19.
• You or someone you live with has a medical condition that means you use a lot of water, such as needing to shower frequently.

If you are eligible and want to apply for WaterSure, or the equivalent scheme in Wales, contact your water company.

The government said in February that it would change the scheme to increase both the number of households eligible and the level of support. Those changes are expected to take effect next year.