A new report from the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) has revealed that water companies are failing to win back customers’ trust amid deepening concerns over the fairness and affordability of water bills.

CCW has today published the summaries of the latest wave of complaint and debt assessments with water companies for Quarter 4 2025-26.

Frustration and worry among households over soaring water bills saw the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) receive the highest number of complaints about water companies in almost a decade.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed is set to establish a new water ombudsman to support customers - the consumer champion will have legal powers to resolve disputes to put money back in people’s pockets.

The Consumer Council for Water (CCW) is warning that water companies’ failure to deal with customers’ concerns over environmental performance and water meters has fuelled a steep rise in complaints.

From today Ofwat has new powers to act against any water company that provides poor customer service in breach of a new licence condition, which could see the regulator impose fines of up to 10% of the company's turnover.

The Consumer Council for Water (CCW) is warning the water companies about poor performance as customer complaints rise 29% in the first quarter of of 2023-24 in its annual household complaint-handling report published today.

Written complaints made by business customers to water retailers have fallen to their lowest level since 2016/17 but performance remains mixed among the larger suppliers.

Consumer water watchdog CCW has launched a consultation on its new draft strategy setting out its plans for 2022-23.

A new report from the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) is calling on water companies to address household customers’ concerns over bills - households have a right to expect clear and accurate water bills and be treated with empathy by water companies if they slip into debt.