Folkestone and Dover wants to impose water meters

Folkestone and Dover Water, which is seeking emergency drought measures, is to put prices up by as much as 10.5%.

Water firms are coping with the worst drought since 1976 in the South East.

Average bills in England and Wales will rise 7%, but South West Water customers also face rises up to 13% and United Utilities, in the North West, 9.5%.

Large differences

The above-inflation increases will come into force on 1 April.

Consumer group the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater), said its figures, sourced from regulator Ofwat, masked large differences in prices paid by customers on water meters and those paying an unmeasured rate.

It said smaller households and those with a high rateable value were usually better off switching to a water meter.

A government decision is expected in the next few months on whether Folkestone and Dover can impose compulsory meters on 20,000 customers.

CCWater warns that the next round of price hikes could leave some customers struggling to pay their water bills.

Figures for 2004-2005 showed that �962m was still owed to water companies during that year.

Bewl Water reservoir on the Kent border is only one third full

That was a 17% increase on 1998-99, CCWater said.

Some 4.4 million households have had bills outstanding for up to 48 months, according to Ofwat figures from August 2005.

The consumer group advises householders to look at ways of saving water without cutting back on essential usage and to apply for a vulnerable customer tariff if they qualify

Water UK, which represents all the water companies, said the price increases were agreed by the regulator following a thorough review in 2004.

"They will make investments possible in the quality of water and our environment that will be of benefit to all customers," he said.

"We too are concerned that price rises for some people with low incomes may cause a difficulty and we would urge any customers in that position to contact their water company so that they can discuss the best way of helping them to pay."

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