How are Surrey's upped water bills being spent?
Household bills are rising dramatically, but will these price hikes actually improve the quality of Surrey's waterways.
From this week, household bills are rising sharply, with the month even being described as 'awful April.'
People across Surrey will experience varying increases in their water bills, among others.
Thames Water customers are facing a 31% hike. An annual average bill for 2025-26 is £639, compared to £488 in 2024-25.
Affinity Water has said its clean water tariff will go up; for non-metered customers, the price will increase by 29%, and for metered customers, the rise is 19%.
For South East Water, it is a 20% increase for an average bill.
SES Water has said average customer bills for 2025/26 will go up by 3%.
A statement from SES Water, said:
"Compared to our 2024/25 charges, average customer bills for 2025/26 will increase by a total of 3% (or 2 pence per day).
"These figures account for updated inflation, current water usage and the current number of customers we serve in our region.
"We offer many support programmes for our customers and this year, we have launched a £200m support package for customers and we are on track to eradicate Water Poverty by 2025 - a commitment we have doubled down on to 2030. "
The question a lot of people are therefore asking is, how is this money going to be spent?
Charlie Norman from the Inland Waterways Association, said:
"It's perfectly reasonable for people to ask where this money is going, and it's understandable to think that, if bills are increasing, then that money should be invested back into improving the quality of Surrey's rivers.
"There was a report last year that found water quality in Surrey is actually amongst the ten worst counties in the country - it was the River Mole that did especially poorly.
"And why wouldn't people be angry of that, alongside even higher bills."
"The IWA is of the view that water companies should contribute to the maintenance and improvement of the waterways we all enjoy."
There are details yet on how our water companies will be spending people's monthly bill payments.
Energy bills are also increasing by 6.4%, meaning the energy price cap will increase to £1,849 per year for those on a standard variable tariff and paying by Direct Debit.
Stamp duty, broadband, mobile phone, TV licence and car tax are some of the other bills going up from this week