Residents in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, will continue to pay some of the lowest combined water and sewerage bills in England and Wales after Severn Trent Water confirmed new prices on 29 January 2026. Severn Trent said its bills remain the second-lowest for combined water and sewerage services.
The average annual bill for households supplied by Severn Trent is set to be £587 when the new rates take effect on 1 April 2026. That represents an increase of about 10% (around £52 a year). Industry reporting (Water UK and the BBC) projects a national average bill of £639 for 2026/27; Severn Trent’s own news release, however, compared its bill to a national-average figure of £660 (the discrepancy stems from different industry calculations and should be noted).
The rises are being used to fund a national programme of investment to upgrade ageing infrastructure and reduce sewage discharges. Water UK and other industry bodies say companies will invest around £20 billion in 2026-27 to secure supplies and tackle river pollution. Severn Trent says its own investment programme includes around £415m to lay over 870 miles of new water pipes and more than £1.7bn aimed at improving river health and reducing overflows; the regulator’s PR24 price review set the allowed price changes that enable companies to raise bills for such investment.
BBC reporting on the sector says the increases are part of efforts to secure future water supplies and reduce pollution. Severn Trent pointed out that, despite the rise, its average bill remains £172 lower than the highest combined water and sewerage bill in England and Wales.
For clarity: the “£639” national average figure is reported by Water UK and the BBC; Severn Trent’s press release uses a different national-average comparator (£660). The £587, the 10% / £52 increase, the 29 January announcement date and the 1 April 2026 effective date are confirmed by Severn Trent’s 29 January 2026 news release.
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