Friday January 23rd 2026
Scottish Water work truck
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
From April 2026, average household water and waste water charges in Scotland will rise by £42 in the aim to support essential services and national infrastructure investment.
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.
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 have explained that the increase will enable the publicly-owned company to maintain essential services alongside support investment to upgrade infrastructure.
Key takeaways from the announcement include:
– 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 also explained that the rise is needed to maintain services and invest in infrastructure, such as replacing and maintaining 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.”
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