Scottish Water has announced the amount households pay for water and waste water services will rise by 4.2% in 2022/23 to cover the increasing cost of dealing with the effects of climate change.
The water company supplies water to 97% of Scotland’s 2.6 million homes. Around half of those households currently receive financial support to help pay for their water and waste water charges. This new annual charge will mean an average bill increase of 31 pence per week.
Douglas Millican, chief executive of Scottish Water said: “Customers rely on our services for their daily water needs and to take away and clean the water they use. Over the last two years those services have been vital to maintaining public health during the pandemic.
“We have been recognised as leading in the water sector in the UK on customer service excellence, the quality of Scotland’s drinking water remains very high, and we are investing to protect the environment from pollution.
“Higher levels of investment are needed to protect services now and over the long term, particularly in meeting the challenges of more intense rainfall, flooding, and drought, and reducing carbon emissions.
“We understand there needs to be a balance between the need for higher levels of investment and the financial challenges faced by households at the present time. We have set charges at a level that takes account of those challenges while being open and clear that charges will need to increase further in future years.”
Water and waste water charges to licensed providers who supply businesses and other non-domestic customers will also increase by 4.2%.
