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WaterSure explained
WaterSure explained: help with high water bills
WaterSure is a scheme that helps some households with high water use and low incomes by capping their water bills.
It is designed for people who must use more water than average, often because of a medical condition or because they have several children living at home.
The Government has announced major reforms to the scheme, which will expand eligibility and make the bill cap fairer.
Below is a simple guide to how WaterSure works.
💧 WaterSure: help with high water bills
WaterSure is a scheme that caps water bills for households that must use a lot of water because of medical needs or family circumstances.
You may qualify if:
- You have a water meter (or are waiting for one)
- Your household uses a large amount of water because of a medical condition or because you have three or more children under 19
- Someone in the household receives a qualifying benefit
New changes to the scheme include:
- People receiving PIP, DLA or Attendance Allowance can qualify
- Applicants no longer need to provide a doctor’s note
- Bills will be capped using the lowest average water bill
- Single-person households will have their cap based on one person’s water use
When will this happen?
The new rules are expected to take effect in early 2027.
What is WaterSure?
WaterSure limits how much some households have to pay for water.
Instead of paying for all the water they use, their bill is capped at a fixed level, usually around the average household water bill in their area.
This protects people who cannot reduce their water use because of health or family circumstances.
In 2024/25, around 260,000 households received WaterSure discounts, saving an average of £325 a year.
Who currently qualifies for WaterSure?
To qualify under the current rules, households must meet three main conditions.
1. They must have a water meter
Applicants must either:
have a water meter installed, or
be waiting for one to be fitted
If a meter cannot be installed, the household may instead pay an assessed charge.
2. They must use a lot of water for essential reasons
Households must either:
• have three or more children under 19 living at home, or
• have a medical condition that requires high water use
Examples of qualifying medical conditions include:
Crohn’s disease
Ulcerative colitis
Weeping skin diseases
Incontinence
Desquamation (flaky skin conditions)
Renal failure requiring home dialysis
At present, medical evidence is usually required to confirm the condition.
3. Someone in the household must receive certain benefits
These currently include:
Universal Credit
Pension Credit
Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
Housing Benefit
Child Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit
Applications normally have to be renewed each year with the water supplier.
If you think you qualify for the scheme, the next step is to apply through your water supplier.
💧 How to apply for WaterSure
Applications for WaterSure are made directly to your water company.
- Check you meet the eligibility rules (metered household, benefits and high water use).
- Visit your water supplier’s website and download the WaterSure application form.
- Complete the form and provide evidence of benefits or medical need.
- Return the form to your water company by post, email or online.
Tip: If you don’t know who supplies your water, you can find your local company on the Water UK website.
How to apply for WaterSure
Applications must be made directly to your water supplier. Each water company operates the scheme for households in its area.
(external links below will open in a new browser tab or window)
You can also find general information and advice from the Consumer Council for Water or the water regulator Ofwat.
Major water companies offering WaterSure include Thames Water, Severn Trent, United Utilities, Yorkshire Water, Anglian Water, Southern Water, Northumbrian Water, South West Water, Wessex Water, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and Hafren Dyfrdwy.
What changes are being introduced?
The Government has announced the first major reform of WaterSure since the scheme began in 1999.
The changes are expected to come into force in early 2027.
Disability benefits will now qualify
For the first time, the scheme will include people receiving:
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
However, households must still have high water use because of a medical condition.
A household income limit will apply
To qualify under the new rules, households must have an income below £25,745 per year.
This figure reflects the average household income of people receiving Universal Credit.
Medical notes will no longer be required
People applying for WaterSure will no longer need to pay for a doctor’s note to confirm their condition.
Water companies have agreed to introduce this change voluntarily to make the scheme easier to access.
The reforms are expected to bring around 53,000 additional households into the scheme.
How will the bill cap change?
WaterSure currently caps bills at the average water bill in a company’s area.
However, different water companies calculate this average in different ways.
Some use the average of all bills, while others use metered usage averages, which are often lower.
The reforms will standardise this system.
Water companies will have to apply the lowest possible average bill as the cap, meaning many households will pay less.
Extra help for people living alone
Single-person households will benefit from a new rule.
Their bills will be capped at the average water use for one person, rather than the average household.
This change is expected to help around 53,000 single households, saving about £100 per year.
Around 130,000 other households could save an additional £26 per year on average.
Why does WaterSure matter?
Some households must use large amounts of water because of health conditions.
For example, people may need to:
• wash frequently
• do extra laundry
• manage medical treatments at home
• maintain strict hygiene routines
Without support, this can lead to very high water bills.
WaterSure households currently use more water than average and have typical bills of around £890 before the cap is applied.
By limiting charges, the scheme helps prevent these households being penalised for essential water use.
What is happening to water bills more generally?
Water bills have been rising in recent years.
Average household bills:
• increased by 26% in 2025/26 to £603, and
• are forecast to rise to £639 in 2026/27
The WaterSure reforms will be funded by a small increase of about £1.14 per year on other customers’ bills.
Wider water reforms
The WaterSure changes form part of a wider programme of reforms announced in the Government’s Water White Paper.
Measures include:
Smart water meters, which allow households to monitor usage and detect leaks
Mandatory water-efficiency labels on appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and showers
A new Water Ombudsman to resolve customer complaints
Smart meters can help households reduce water use by up to 17%, lowering both water and energy bills.
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Further reading and resources
Biggest reform of WaterSure in 30 years
Seven money-saving schemes disabled households could be missing
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