New research suggests that the cost-of-living crisis is affecting water bills with
a steep price rise recorded in the last year
· Average price of having a shower has risen 16p to a new daily price of 60p
· Women who shower daily (£244.44) pay significantly more per year than men (£190.12)
· Cost of running a large bath every day is an eye-watering £1,012.57 per year
· Thames Water sees largest price rise with consumers paying £64.24 more to shower daily
· Wessex Water customers pay more than anyone else – £922.72 per year for a family of four to shower daily
· Five top tips to save money on your water bill
· More information can be found at: https://www.bathrooms.com/blogs/money-down-the-plug-hole-how-much-extra-is-water-usage-costing-in-2022
Water costs are considered to be relatively minimal compared to other utility bills, yet new data reveals that many in England will pay hundreds of pounds more this year to simply have a shower or a bath every day.
Eye-opening new research reveals that over a year, a family of four in England who each shower every day will pay £221.24 more annually than they did in 2021, according to new analysis by The Bathroom Showroom.
Price data from each water board in England was analysed to reveal the average for the typical person, and also to show which regions are experiencing steeper price hikes than others.
In England as a whole, the cost to run a shower for the average length of 8 minutes has risen by 16p a day in 2022 compared to 2021, with consumers now paying 60p per daily wash.
As an annual cost, one person having a daily shower will pay £55.31 more than 2021 with a price increase to £217.28, while the cost of a small (100 litres) bath each day has an annual rise of £87.60 – running a small bath each day would set a family of four back £340.52 in 2022.
Those who love a soak in the bath are in for a shock, as the price of having a large bath every day is revealed to be an eye-watering £1,012.57 per year.
Many people will be looking to cut their household costs during the cost-of-living crisis. A person who changes from showering for 8 minutes daily to 4 minutes daily will save £108.64 over the course of the year.
Women are facing a price rise of £62.11 per year for their daily showers, a significantly higher cost than the £48.39 annual price rise for men.
Women are statistically more likely to take longer showers than men on average (9 minutes vs 7 minutes), meaning women face a higher average cost to their showers – causing a gender disparity of £13.72.
Table: How Much Are Showers and Baths Costing Your Household?
** Shower flow rate is 8 litres/min *** A running tap uses 10 litres/min
Regional Focus – Thames Water Sees Biggest Increase
Households served by Thames Water have seen the largest price rise from 2021 to 2022, with the average cost of a daily shower rising from 44p to 62p.
This means the annual cost of a daily shower has risen by £64.24 per person to a new price of £227.76 per year.
Households served by Wessex Water pay the highest price for water, with each person who showers every day racking up an annual bill of £230.68, a whopping bill of £922.72 when applied to a family of four.
The smallest increase in year-on-year costs will be felt by households served by South-East Water. A daily 8-minute shower will set households back £221.92 over the year, an increase of £46.72 over 2021. A small bath each day is £73 more expensive, setting households back £346.75 this year.
| Water Provider | 2022 annual £ for daily 8 min shower |
| Wessex Water | £230.68 |
| Thames Water | £227.76 |
| South-West Water | £227.76 |
| Anglian Water | £224.84 |
| United Utilities Water | £224.84 |
| Hafren Dyfrdwy | £221.92 |
| South-East Water | £221.92 |
| Dŵr Cymru | £216.08 |
| Severn Trent Water | £216.08 |
| Southern Water | £216.08 |
| South Staffs Water | £216.08 |
| Affinity Water | £213.16 |
| SES Water | £213.16 |
| Yorkshire Water | £210.24 |
| Bristol Water | £210.24 |
| Northumbrian Water | £201.48 |
| Portsmouth Water | £201.48 |
| Provider | YOY Price Rise (2021 vs 2022) |
| Thames Water | £64.24 |
| Anglian Water | £61.32 |
| South Staffs Water | £61.32 |
| Affinity Water | £61.32 |
| Bristol Water | £61.32 |
| United Utilities Water | £58.40 |
| Severn Trent Water | £55.48 |
| SES Water | £55.48 |
| Portsmouth Water | £55.48 |
| Wessex Water | £52.56 |
| Hafren Dyfrdwy | £52.56 |
| Dŵr Cymru | £52.56 |
| Southern Water | £52.56 |
| Yorkshire Water | £52.56 |
| Northumbrian Water | £52.56 |
| South West Water | £49.64 |
| South East Water | £46.72 |
Money Down the Plughole: Five Top Tips to Save Money in the Bathroom
Looking to cut down on your water bill in 2022? Here are five top tips to help you along the way.
1. Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth:Many of us leave the tap running whilst brushing our teeth, yet the figures above prove that the cost of wasted water can take a toll on your wallet.
2. Cut down on running the bath: The price data highlights how significant a cost having a bath frequently can be. Those of us who run a large bath every day will rack up an annual bill of £1,021.57 by the end of 2022 – comfortably enough to pay for a family holiday.
3. Shallower baths for small children: Small children are unlikely to stay in the bath for a long time, so running a shallower bath than usual could save water and a few pounds along the way.
4. Be mindful of shower length times: Using the shower for less time can save a lot of money and water! Taking a four-minute shower every day rather than the average 8 minutes would save over £100 over the course of a year. Some digital showers include an eco-mode with a reduced water flower which can help.
5. Use a device in your toilet to reduce water use: You can fit a water displacement device in your toilet which means it uses less water with each flush.
Parv Sangera, Managing Director at The Bathroom Showroom, said: “Millions of people up and down the country are looking for ways to cut down on their household bills, and this data shows that water bills are rising just as rapidly as other utilities.
“We know that this is a tough time for many, and all we can advise is to try and save water wherever possible, even small savings can make a big difference, and saving water also helps the environment to boot.”
For more information on this data, visit: https://www.bathrooms.com/blogs/money-down-the-plug-hole-how-much-extra-is-water-usage-costing-in-2022
Find a showroom near you at: https://www.bathrooms.com/branch-locator
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