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I’m a pensioner – I have to limit my toilet flushes to save on water bills

Older people struggling to cope with soaring water costs are taking drastic measures

Pensioners struggling to cope with rising water bills are taking drastic measures including limiting how often they flush their toilets and take showers.

Almost one million pensioner households in England and Wales could be living in water poverty by 2029/2030 unless the Government and water providers take urgent action, according to research by charity Independent Age. In 2022/2023 when there were 750,000 pensioner households living in water poverty.

Latest figures reveal water bills will rise by an average of ÂŁ123 in the next financial year alone in the biggest hit to customers since the industry was privatised 36 years ago.

The rise, confirmed by industry body Water UK, will take the average water and wastewater bill from ÂŁ480 to ÂŁ603 for the next year. This equates to an increase of around ÂŁ10 a month, from ÂŁ40 to ÂŁ50.

The anxiety caused by financial hardship experienced by older people has led to some taking extreme steps to cut their water costs – including reducing how often they flush their toilet and using everyday appliances less often.

Yvonne Bailey, 79, told The i Paper she fears the water price hike will leave her in water poverty.

Yvonne Bailey, 79, fears rising water bills will send her into water poverty (Photo: Independent Age)
Yvonne Bailey, 79, fears rising water bills will send her into water poverty (Photo: Independent Age)

“I am worried sick as I am so careful but I don’t know what else I can do to cut my water bill,” she said. “Once they start whacking the price up, I won’t be able to manage as I am only just about managing now.”

Despite not being what she termed a “high water user” Ms Bailey has said she has tried to cut down on her waste-water use and never has the tap running when she brushes her teeth.

She adds: “When it comes to washing clothes, I put my machine on a 20-minute wash on low energy and economy so that cuts down on water use.

“Instead of showering every day, I now shower every other day. In between, I have a wash in the hand basin.

“My only luxury with water is that I drink a lot of water during the day. I’m not cutting down on that and dehydrating myself.”

Yvonne, who lives in Oxfordshire, has been widowed for 27 years after her husband died at the age of 60.

She says last year, her water company told her she owed £45 despite making all her monthly payments. After looking at the breakdown of the bill, she discovered she had actually only used £5 of extra water in the entire year – and the remaining £40 was extra charges.

“It is disgusting how older people are being hit by water poverty,” she said. “I have worked since I was 16 and never claimed any benefits until this age where I now get pension credit.

“My late husband started working at 15 and was still working up until he died in his 60th year. It is so bloody unfair. We worked hard all our lives. We never had high-paid jobs but always worked and paid our way and raised a family scrimping and saving all our lives.

“I am fortunate to get to old age as my husband died when he was still young. Now, suddenly we’re being ripped off by these big companies and the Government isn’t supporting older people enough. It’s wrong.

“We shouldn’t be having to live like this when we’ve retired. I remember when my grandparents retired, and when my mother retired. Their life improved because they were free to do what they wanted and go where they wanted. They had an income they could manage on at that time.

“Pensioners today haven’t got that luxury. We’re trying to make ends meet all the time.”

Judith Howard, 78, who is already forced to wear her coat indoors as she cannot afford to heat her home without the winter fuel payment, says she is also restricting the number of times she flushes her toilet and has stopped having baths. She just uses her basin to wash herself as she cannot afford to have a shower installed. She also runs her washing machine at lower temperatures.

“We’re becoming like a third-world country,” she said. “The main factor when it comes to water poverty is the increasing of charges by the water companies.

“Restricting my water usage is partly to save heating water, but also to try to limit those increases.

Judith Howard, 78, wears her coat indoors and has been forced to make many cutbacks as she tries to survive without the winter fuel payment
Judith Howard, 78, says the UK is ‘becoming like a third-world country’

“It is totally immoral to expect pensioners and the low-paid to subsidise the salaries and bonuses of bosses at these water companies.”

The research from Independent Age found that 40 per cent of older people aged 65 or older in England living on a low income had taken action to reduce their water bill.

When asked about what actions they had taken in the past six months between January and July 2024, 45 per cent said they reduced their washing machine usage, 44 per cent said they had reduced the amount they were flushing the toilet, 30 per cent were using the kettle less and 28 per cent were reducing how often they showered.

Morgan Vine, director of policy and influencing at Independent Age, said: “Yvonne and Judith’s experiences are unfortunately not unique; we have spoken to people in later life across the country that are making drastic cutbacks to reduce their water costs.

“We have heard from people only showering once a week, not regularly flushing the toilet and cutting down on laundry. It’s not right that so many people in later life are forced to live like this.

“Our new research shows why high water bills need to be addressed so that people of all ages who live on a low income are supported to cover these growing costs.

“Without additional intervention, there will be a tidal wave of water poverty among pensioner households in the next few years, with it potentially increasing from 750,000 living in water poverty to almost one million by 2029/30.

“Whilst all water companies provide some form of social tariff for customers on a low income, a confusing postcode lottery means the generosity and eligibility criteria vary greatly depending on where you live.

A map of England and Wales shows how much water bills will increase by on 1 April

“Your address shouldn’t dictate how much financial support you receive. We urge the UK Government to introduce a single social tariff for England and Wales and stem the tide of water poverty.”

A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) spokesperson said: “After years of failure, we are left with record sewage spills and crumbling water infrastructure.

“For too long, customers’ money has been spent on unjustified bonuses and shareholder payouts, rather than investing in new sewage pipes.

“We have been clear the water sector must deliver for customers and the environment and that customers cannot be expected to pay the price for years of underperformance.

“This is why the Government will ringfence money earmarked for investment so it can only be spent on infrastructure upgrades, not bonuses and shareholder payouts, cleaning up our rivers, lakes and seas for good. Where money is not spent, we will force water companies to return it to customers.”

A Water UK spokesperson said: “We understand increasing bills is never welcome and, while we urgently need investment in our water and sewage infrastructure, we know that for many this increase will be difficult.

“This is why water companies are more than doubling the level of financial support for customers with £4.1 billion to be made available over the next five years.

“We urge anyone struggling with their bill to get in touch with their water company to discuss the support available.”

Every water company has a social tariff scheme which can help reduce bills for those on a low income. Some water companies may even have a financial hardship fund.

For advice if you are struggling to pay bills, please visit the Consumer Council for Water or Citizens Advice here.



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