Metered or unmetered?
Learn more about your bills and what they cover
Find out more about your bill
Your bill will be different depending on whether you have a water meter.
With a meter, you pay for the water you use plus a standing charge to cover things like pipes, pumps and customer service.
Without a meter, we estimate how much water your household uses based on the Rateable Value (RV) of your home. RVs were fixed by the District Valuer’s Office of the Inland Revenue between 1967 and 1990 and cannot be changed. You also pay a standing charge.
If we are unable to fit a water meter at your home, you’ll go onto an assessed tariff. This is an estimate of the water you would use if a meter was fitted. It takes into account factors such as how many people live in your home, the type of property and the average metered bill for similar properties. For more information see our metering terms and conditions.
We’ve broken down the different parts of your bill: example of a metered bill and unmetered bill.
Ways to reduce your bill
We’d all like to save money where possible. Here are a few ways to reduce your bill or make it easier to manage.
Pay by Direct Debit to help spread the cost of your bill.
Use our eligibility calculator to find out what other support might apply to you.
(click on the chat button in the bottom-right hand corner of the page.)
Sign up with Lightning Reach to find out whether you can claim grants, benefits or other forms of help from multiple providers.
Pay by Direct Debit to help spread the cost of your bill.
Use our eligibility calculator to find out what other support might apply to you.
(click on the chat button in the bottom-right hand corner of the page.)
Sign up with Lightning Reach to find out whether you can claim grants, benefits or other forms of help from multiple providers.
Pay by Direct Debit to help spread the cost of your bill.
Use our eligibility calculator to find out what other support might apply to you.
(click on the chat button in the bottom-right hand corner of the page.)
Sign up with Lightning Reach to find out whether you can claim grants, benefits or other forms of help from multiple providers.
Your metered bill
We've broken down the different parts of your metered bill here.
Your unmetered bill
We've broken down the different parts of your unmetered bill here.
Priority Services
If you have additional needs or a disability, you can sign up to our Priority Services register for free.
Pay your bill
Choose from several ways to pay your water bill, learn about how your bill is calculated, and log in to your account.
Need help paying your bill
If you’re struggling to pay, we have a range of plans to reduce your bills or help manage your payments. See our payment support page to find out more.
Upgrading the network
How your bills are helping to support a major investment programme.
Questions about your bill - 2026/27
The new charges will come into effect on 1 April 2026. Customers on a meter will see these new tariffs on their first bill after this date, customers paying unmetered charges will see this on their annual bill for 2026/27.
If you’re an unmetered customer (you don’t have a water meter) then yes, your bill will increase this year.
For metered customers (with a water meter) the water charges have increased. How much you pay depends on how much water you use.
- Whether you’re on a support tariff
- The rateable value of your house if you’re not on a meter, or
- The amount of water you use if you have a meter
We are delivering what matters most to customers and communities with record levels of investment across our regions. Our investment will see further improvements across the main customer priorities – securing safe, clean drinking water and protecting the environment, with investments in renewables. Despite doubling our investment program, we're committed to keeping bills as low as possible and supporting people through the cost-of-living crisis.
We’re spending around £66m over the next five years to upgrade the Bristol Water network. This will:
- Make water quality even better
- Enable us to treat more water at any time
- Reduce the risk of problems like burst pipes
Specific projects include:
- Cheddar Water Treatment Works to upgrade filtration and add UV treatment
- Stowey and Littleton Water Treatment Works - to add eco-friendly membrane-based treatment (at Stowey, at Littleton)
- Blagdon Lake Tower to help improve lake water quality
- Pucklechurch service reservoir upgrade
- Barrow improvements to backwash tank
Every five years we calculate the cost of providing an efficient services to keep taps running, including the cost of investment for the future to make sure we can meet our environmental and social obligations.
We then consider the numbers and types of customers we serve and submit our proposals for recovering these costs through the prices we charge to Ofwat, the economic regulator of the water industry.
Ofwat review our proposals and sets the price, investment and service package customers receive. They set the price control for companies every five years and companies must stay within these price controls.
We offer a range of support options to help you lower your water bills, including switching to a meter so you only pay for the water you use, or signing up to an affordability tariff. You can also receive free water efficiency advice, and access support with managing debt.
The new charges will come into effect on 1 April 2026. Customers on a meter will see these new tariffs on their first bill after this date, customers paying unmetered charges will see this on their annual bill for 2026/27.
If you’re an unmetered customer (you don’t have a water meter) then yes, your bill will increase this year.
For metered customers (with a water meter) the water charges have increased. How much you pay depends on how much water you use.
- Whether you’re on a support tariff
- The rateable value of your house if you’re not on a meter, or
- The amount of water you use if you have a meter
We are delivering what matters most to customers and communities with record levels of investment across our regions. Our investment will see further improvements across the main customer priorities – securing safe, clean drinking water and protecting the environment, with investments in renewables. Despite doubling our investment program, we're committed to keeping bills as low as possible and supporting people through the cost-of-living crisis.
We’re spending around £66m over the next five years to upgrade the Bristol Water network. This will:
- Make water quality even better
- Enable us to treat more water at any time
- Reduce the risk of problems like burst pipes
Specific projects include:
- Cheddar Water Treatment Works to upgrade filtration and add UV treatment
- Stowey and Littleton Water Treatment Works - to add eco-friendly membrane-based treatment (at Stowey, at Littleton)
- Blagdon Lake Tower to help improve lake water quality
- Pucklechurch service reservoir upgrade
- Barrow improvements to backwash tank
Every five years we calculate the cost of providing an efficient services to keep taps running, including the cost of investment for the future to make sure we can meet our environmental and social obligations.
We then consider the numbers and types of customers we serve and submit our proposals for recovering these costs through the prices we charge to Ofwat, the economic regulator of the water industry.
Ofwat review our proposals and sets the price, investment and service package customers receive. They set the price control for companies every five years and companies must stay within these price controls.
We offer a range of support options to help you lower your water bills, including switching to a meter so you only pay for the water you use, or signing up to an affordability tariff. You can also receive free water efficiency advice, and access support with managing debt.
The new charges will come into effect on 1 April 2026. Customers on a meter will see these new tariffs on their first bill after this date, customers paying unmetered charges will see this on their annual bill for 2026/27.
If you’re an unmetered customer (you don’t have a water meter) then yes, your bill will increase this year.
For metered customers (with a water meter) the water charges have increased. How much you pay depends on how much water you use.
- Whether you’re on a support tariff
- The rateable value of your house if you’re not on a meter, or
- The amount of water you use if you have a meter
We are delivering what matters most to customers and communities with record levels of investment across our regions. Our investment will see further improvements across the main customer priorities – securing safe, clean drinking water and protecting the environment, with investments in renewables. Despite doubling our investment program, we're committed to keeping bills as low as possible and supporting people through the cost-of-living crisis.
We’re spending around £66m over the next five years to upgrade the Bristol Water network. This will:
- Make water quality even better
- Enable us to treat more water at any time
- Reduce the risk of problems like burst pipes
Specific projects include:
- Cheddar Water Treatment Works to upgrade filtration and add UV treatment
- Stowey and Littleton Water Treatment Works - to add eco-friendly membrane-based treatment (at Stowey, at Littleton)
- Blagdon Lake Tower to help improve lake water quality
- Pucklechurch service reservoir upgrade
- Barrow improvements to backwash tank
Every five years we calculate the cost of providing an efficient services to keep taps running, including the cost of investment for the future to make sure we can meet our environmental and social obligations.
We then consider the numbers and types of customers we serve and submit our proposals for recovering these costs through the prices we charge to Ofwat, the economic regulator of the water industry.
Ofwat review our proposals and sets the price, investment and service package customers receive. They set the price control for companies every five years and companies must stay within these price controls.
We offer a range of support options to help you lower your water bills, including switching to a meter so you only pay for the water you use, or signing up to an affordability tariff. You can also receive free water efficiency advice, and access support with managing debt.