The Welsh Liberal Democrats have condemned planned water bill increases across Wales.

Under the latest plans, customers of Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water will see bills rise by 4.8% from April, adding an average of £31 a year and taking typical household bills to £683. Meanwhile, customers served by Hafren Dyfrdwy in parts of north-east Wales face an even steeper increase of 9%, one of the highest rises anywhere in England and Wales.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats say it is unacceptable for households to be asked to pay more when rivers continue to be polluted by sewage discharges and customers still experience service disruption and poor communication.

The party added that across Wales, communities have repeatedly raised concerns about the health of rivers, coastal waters and local environments. Sewage pollution continues to damage wildlife, harm tourism and recreation, and erode trust in a system that is supposed to protect essential natural resources.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats argue that families should not be forced to bankroll years of under-investment and environmental damage. They say the current system allows water companies to pass costs onto customers without delivering clean rivers, resilient infrastructure or reliable services.

The party is calling for fundamental reform of water regulation in Wales, including replacing Ofwat with a powerful new Welsh regulator with real enforcement powers to put customers and the environment first. Welsh Liberal Democrats also support a move toward a mutual ownership model, ensuring that money paid by customers is reinvested into infrastructure, sewage treatment and environmental protection, rather than being diverted away from public benefit.

Commenting, David Chadwick MP, Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster Spokesperson, said: “It is an absolute insult to ask families across Wales to pay higher water bills while our rivers are treated like open sewers and service standards continue to fall short.

“Whether it’s the 5% rise facing Dŵr Cymru customers or the staggering 9% increase imposed by Hafren Dyfrdwy, households are being asked to foot the bill for years of failure by the water industry.

“People should not be paying more to clean up a mess they did not create. The current system protects water companies while customers and the environment lose out.

“The Welsh Liberal Democrats believe we need more than tinkering at the edges. We need a complete overhaul: a new Welsh regulator with real teeth and a move towards mutual ownership so customers’ money is invested back into our water infrastructure and environment.

“Water is a basic necessity. People across Wales deserve fair bills, clean rivers and a system that works in the public interest.”

Welsh Water say the price rise will help ensure the company delivers its aim of providing world class water services to the communities it serves.

Following the price rise Welsh Water customers will on average pay less than £2 a day for their water and wastewater services. The not-for-profit company say the increase is among the lowest for water and sewage companies across Wales and England.

Between 2025-30 more than £4bn will be invested in Welsh Water’s services - double the investment of 2020-25 - and includes £2.5bn on projects to improve the environment.

The investment will fund work to reduce pollution, upgrade and build new vital assets, reduce leakage, and improve water quality.

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water Chief Executive Roch Cheroux said: “As I start my new role at Welsh Water my focus is firmly on aiming at delivering world class water services for our customers and their communities.

“It’s vitally important that we deliver the service customers want at a price that they can afford.

“We understand that the recent price rises have been substantial at a time of rising costs across the board for our customers.

“Our aim is to deliver value for money, and we will work tirelessly to show our customers the value of all that we do for their communities and the environment.”