The Board of Scottish Water has announced that household water and waste water bills will rise by an average of £42 per year from 1st April 2026 – an increase of around £3.50 a month.

Graphic: how every £1 Scottish Water spends is allocated across operations, upgrades, repairs and borrowing

The change will take the average annual charge in Scotland to £532, which remains among the lowest of any water company in the UK. The increase represents an 8.67% rise, in line with limits set by the independent economic regulator, the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS).

Scottish Water said the funding will enable publicly-owned company to maintain essential services for more than five million people and support investment to upgrade infrastructure.

Key Points

Water bills up by £42 a year (around £3.50 a month)

Average annual charge: £532; among the lowest in the UK

Around 53% of households receiving bill cost support

Scottish Water said the rise is needed to maintain services and invest in essential infrastructure such as water pipes and treatment works.

Scotland’s water and waste water system is facing increasing pressure including more extreme weather and growing demand.

Recent challenges include Scotland’s driest start to the year in six decades and an increase in repairs as older infrastructure comes to the end of its operational life.

Alex Plant, Scottish Water Chief Executive, said:

“We understand any rise is unwelcome, but as a publicly owned organisation every penny our customers pay goes into improving services for people in Scotland – from tackling ageing pipes, to responding to ever more extreme weather, to enabling new homes to be built. We know that sustainable investment now protects customers from higher costs in the future.”

Scotland has one of the most comprehensive support schemes in the UK, with more than half of households receiving help with water charges. Most homes pay through their Council Tax bill.