Water costs for households in Scotland are expected to rise by 9.9% starting in April 2025, the third year in a row that increases have been substantial. Scottish Water ascribes the increase to the necessity of making vital infrastructure improvements in order to address the problems brought on by a changing environment.
The action comes as the organization issues a warning about increasing strain on its systems as a result of increasingly frequent droughts, heavy rainfall, and drier soil conditions. This comes after comparable rises of 8.8% in 2024 and 5% in 2023. Although the increase is intended to protect future water supplies, it will put households already struggling with growing living expenses in a difficult financial position.
Water Bills Tied to Climate-Driven Upgrades
Scottish Water serves over 2.6 million households and 225,000 businesses, and its annual charges are tied to council tax bands, ranging from A to H. Under the new pricing, households in band A—the lowest tax bracket—will now pay over £400 annually for water supply and waste collection, while those in band H will see their bills exceed £1,200. Homes in the mid-range band D face a £54 annual increase.
The utility company has defended the rise, citing the urgent need for investments to bolster water infrastructure against the growing risks of extreme weather. Alex Plant, Chief Executive of Scottish Water, highlighted that without these measures, Scotland could face significant water supply deficits during periods of drought, projected to rise from 60 million litres per day to 240 million litres by 2050. Additionally, drier soil conditions are expected to exacerbate water main bursts, further straining the system.
Environmental Challenges Demand Action
The announcement comes amid stark warnings about the effects of climate change on Scotland’s water resources. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) reported that autumn 2024 was the fifth driest in a century, following a summer marked by record-breaking rainfall in parts of the country. Such extreme weather events, including prolonged dry spells and intense downpours, have exposed vulnerabilities in the nation’s water infrastructure.
Plant emphasized the need for “long-term, sustainable investment” to guarantee Scotland‘s water infrastructure continue to be dependable for future generations, calling the mounting strains a “serious challenge” for preserving service quality. In order to balance the load on both present and potential consumers, he also guaranteed that the higher expenses were being allocated equitably among client groups.
Scottish Water’s pricing decisions are regulated by the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS), which sets maximum allowable charges for multi-year periods. The utility’s board determines the annual adjustments within these limits.
The rise in water bills will likely spark debate as households and businesses weigh the financial impact against the long-term benefits of improving resilience to climate change. For now, Scottish Water maintains that the changes are essential to safeguarding services for millions across the country.
